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Elementary

Aidan’s program for children ages 6-12 engages our students’ emerging intellectual capacity, supporting them as they become curious, collaborative thinkers and problem-solvers.

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The way children learn begins to change at about age six. During the Primary years, children simply absorb new information, seemingly without effort. However, in the Elementary years children become more active learners. They are driven by their imagination and intellectual curiosity. They ask questions about “why” and “how.” They ask follow-up questions. They become interested in abstract concepts. Social life becomes more important, and they want to understand how the world works. They develop a sense of right and wrong, and they start to use reason and logic to answer questions and solve puzzles. 

At Aidan, our approach to learning is tailored to support children in this stage of development. Teachers and students are not bound by a rigid curriculum. Lessons for each student are selected based on the teacher’s observations and assessment of that particular student’s needs and are designed to inspire further academic exploration and to ensure that students continue to progress. Lessons are presented to small groups of children, which helps to facilitate productive group work.

When they are not receiving a lesson, Elementary students have the freedom and responsibility to choose their own work. This helps them develop a sense of accountability for their own learning. Our approach, which emphasizes interconnections and interdependencies between academic disciplines, is designed to inspire big work. This is supported by the classroom’s physical environment. Students have ready access to supplies of paper, cardboard, clay, paint, and other material to facilitate projects. Tables are arranged to accommodate small groups. Teachers and students work together to cultivate a sense of community and a culture of work.

Our Elementary program has three classroom communities: two for ages 6-9 (grades 1-3) and one for ages 9-12 (grades 4-6). Each classroom is led by a teacher who has earned an Elementary diploma from the Association Montessori Internationale and a Master’s Degree in Education. Each lead teacher has one full-time assistant. The children in our Elementary classrooms also work with adults who give specialized instruction in Art, Music, Foreign Language (Spanish and Chinese) and Physical Education.

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The Elementary Experience