Highland Community School
AcademicsMontessori Learning
A Montessori education is a child-centered approach developed by Dr. Maria Montessori. It promotes independence, social responsibility, and a love for learning. Children engage through individual or small group instruction, self-directed work, and a prepared environment with materials for exploration. Classrooms are multi-aged and led by a Classroom Guide.
More than an educational method, Montessori philosophy embraces education’s role in developing peaceful communities and individual expression in a democratic society.
Dr. Montessori, the first female doctor in Italy, was a renowned author, educator, and human rights advocate, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Her observations of children led to a philosophy of natural child development and the creation of materials to promote learning.
She believed true education is self-directed, motivated by curiosity and a love of learning. The goal of early education is to nurture a child’s natural desire to learn, rather than inundating them with facts.
Children's House: 3-6 Years Old
Dr. Montessori called the first plane of development, ages 3 to 6, the period of the “absorbent mind.” Children are eager to learn, gain independence, and master skills. The focus is on developing personal responsibility and self-esteem through practical materials. Children learn life skills, concentration, independence, motor skills, and responsibility. They engage in hands-on activities, mastering reading, writing, grammar, and math through concrete materials. Geography, arts, and social skills are integrated into the curriculum. Freedom of movement allows children to work alone or in groups, fostering learning through discovery, exploration, and cooperation. Lessons in grace, courtesy, and problem-solving are emphasized.
Lower Elementary, 6-9 Years Old
Children in the second plane of development, aged 6 to 9, are curious about why, how, and when. They are introduced to cosmic education, exploring the interdependence of everything in nature and space. Eager to understand reasons, explore moral questions, and form close associations, students build on information from the Children’s House. The curriculum is integrated, not compartmentalized into separate subjects. Concepts start simple and concrete, becoming more abstract and complex in higher grades. This age marks a social awakening and insistence on justice. Students have unlimited interests and are encouraged to explore deeply, developing rigorous questioning and investigative skills. They easily meet state standards without teaching to the test.
Upper Elementary, 9-12 Years Old
Between the ages of 9-12, children transition from concrete representation to abstract thinking, using their imagination to connect various facts and ideas. Dr. Montessori believed this is also a time of significant moral development, where students seek to understand motivations behind behavior and develop solutions to moral issues. Education at this level promotes mental independence and the ability to manage daily life with grace and confidence. The classroom structure encourages self-discipline, teaching children how to learn through research, independent study, and collaborative projects. Our focus is on building organization, self-confidence, cooperation, and curiosity, preparing students for Middle School and beyond.
Adolescent Program, 7th-8th Grades
Dr. Montessori described adolescents as having unlimited interests in the universe and their place in it. Students explore all subject areas deeply, fostering rigorous questioning and investigative skills. They learn to ask questions, analyze situations, and find answers. Our adolescent students also run a café and participate in other occupations that teach autonomy and critical thinking. In Montessori education, “occupations” refer to meaningful, hands-on activities that integrate practical life skills with academic learning, fostering independence, responsibility, and critical thinking.
While meeting state standards, no boundaries are set on their study’s breadth or depth, and they excel without teaching to the test.