Academic Programs : ElementaryElementary
Elementary-aged children (ages 6-12 years) emerge from their primary years into a time of exploration and growth beyond the limits of their classrooms and families. They are ready to explore the larger physical and social world around them. It is at this time that children begin to understand his/her place as citizens of the world, and Elementary education is specifically designed to support the child in taking this very important step of development in his/her life. Evergreen School has a deep commitment to guiding the Elementary-aged child through this process. Following the traditional lines of the Montessori curriculum and classroom philosophy, Evergreen School provides an authentic Montessori education within and beyond the classroom designed to fulfill the child’s self understanding and development of his/her highest potential. Students are given a solid academic base through an individualized, interdisciplinary program in a loving and respectful environment. In addition, our Elementary program is complemented by a curriculum-driven, community service program that helps children learn about the world and what it means to be a productive member of society.
The Five Great Lessons
Every school year begins with the presentation of the first in a series of the Five Great Lessons: The Beginning of the Universe, Life Comes to Earth, Humans Come to Earth, How Writing Began, and How Numbers Began. These beautifully told stories set the foundation for study in history, geography, science, math, and language. These important impressionistic lessons feed the already inquisitive Elementary mind with a sense of wonder nourishing the innate desire to ask questions and learn more. These lessons help the child understand that there is a beginning to everything and that time, and all of its important events, are what has brought us to where we are today. These lessons provide the context for the child to remember and value the precious and unique nature of life. Imagine these stories as a painted brush stroke within each curricular area to which the child returns to fill in the details several times over a period of 6 years. They continue to amaze and engage the children in deeper learning that grows in sophistication with the child.
Community Service
In order to become responsible citizens of the world, we must know deep inside that we can make a difference. This knowledge is realized through the undertaking of the day-to-day tasks in daily life. The Elementary child becomes more sophisticated in this understanding by reaching beyond the community that is his/her own.
Evergreen's highest priority is to guide students in the establishment of their personal values. Our community is a working model of love, caring, compassion, and respect for all living things. The Elementary child is naturally eager to participate and do his/her best for the common good, and we believe that community service is the best way to fulfill that eagerness. Our current service program is Save the Planet, Save Ourselves.
Save the Planet, Save Ourselves
This 3-year program (or perhaps longer) was chosen for the most obvious of reasons. The state of our planet and its natural resources and the extinction rate of animals and their habitats are calls for great concern. Our children, the leaders of tomorrow, must understand the importance of preserving and renewing our natural resources. Save the Planet, Save Ourselves is driven by the first three of the Five Great Lessons, the foundation of the Montessori curriculum. One of the key learning points in the Timeline of the Universe, Earth, and Humans is that we are all interconnected and that our actions have a profound effect on each other.
For the 2008-2009 school year and beyond, we have formed partnerships with the Anacostia Watershed Society and Clean Currents Green Energy Solutions to provide a curriculum-driven, experiential environmental education program for our Elementary students. The 2008-2009 School year for Upper Elementary will culminate with an eco trip designed by students and the Anacostia Watershed Society.
The Process of Learning
Throughout the course of each day, children are enticed into deeper learning with carefully prepared individual or group lessons. After each lesson, students are asked to explore the work further with a follow-up activity. It is at this point where students can begin their individually chosen research to explore more deeply within the presented curricular areas. Students can work individually or create research partnerships with their classmates. Students begin their research with our in-house resources, such as prepared materials, our school library, or the internet. In many cases, students will move beyond the classroom to our public library, the vast public resources in the Washington, D.C., area through field trips, and/or knowledgeable adults who can help them discover the answers to their questions. Evergreen is committed to bringing subjects to life through engaging and visual presentations and through real world experiences that foster the Elementary child’s natural desire to learn more. Our teachers devote themselves to meeting the needs of each individual student. They encourage their students to ask probing questions and to seek out answers on their own. Students are challenged to master individual subjects and apply information they have learned across disciplines, as well as learn the value of teamwork and independent study and research.
The Classroom Environment
Environment is a key principle in the Montessori pedagogy. Evergreen Elementary classrooms are specifically designed for the social and educational development of the Elementary child. In Montessori education, the classroom belongs to the children. It is their environment (prepared by the teacher), and students are responsible for its daily maintenance. It is important for the child to feel that the environment is his or her own so he/she feels relaxed and secure. This feeling of relaxation and security is what prompts the child to explore.
Evergreen’s Elementary program is divided into two multi-age classes: Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary. In these multi-age classrooms, children work at their own pace and in their own learning styles. Older children point the way for the younger children through role modeling and guidance, which provides many opportunities for reinforcement and increased self esteem for the older child and a sense of belonging for the younger or newer child. Each child spends 3 years within his or her classroom community of children and teachers. This 3-year period builds a strong bond and environment of trust, and the children and the teachers are able to address individual personality and learning styles to facilitate the highest level of personal and academic growth possible.
The Montessori Teacher
Our Elementary teachers serve as a model and a guide to our students. They present well prepared lessons, observe their students, and work individually with each student several times during the course of the day. Teachers also keep detailed records of each child’s progress and meet with children weekly to discuss their progress on various projects and follow-up work in each curricular area. All of our teachers are Montessori trained and have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.