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| Elementary |
| Our Elementary class is an environment which encompasses students ages 6 to 12. A variety of lessons are introduced while allowing the curriculum to be defined by the student in conjunction with the directress. The lessons are designed to stimulate the developing brain of the school-aged child. Use of imagination and creative expression are encouraged. Time management and social skills are developed, while nurturing a lifelong love of learning. |
| The curriculum encompasses the traditional subjects of reading, writing, math, science and history. Additional subjects taught are music, art, drama, and Spanish. Our campus is used for study, physical education, and inspiration. These elements provide the student with outlets for intellectual and social growth. An overnight, trips into the larger community, and projects enhance studies. |
| During the elementary years the seeds of independence and motivation to work, which have been nurtured so carefully at the Children's House level, bear fruit. The child enters a new plane of mental and intellectual maturity which necessitates his participation in more abstract work. While the Children's House child learns through his senses, the elementary aged child learns chiefly through his imagination.
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| The Elementary curriculum encompasses the universe and all its intricacies, which are revealed to the child through a series of great stories and scientific demonstrations that evoke creative thinking as we ask the child to imagine the unseen forces and their interplay. We divide the classroom environment into areas of geography, history, language, mathematics, geometry, botany, zoology, music and art. These areas are integrated to give the children’s perspective of knowledge as a whole. This effort to point out the interrelationships is known as "Cosmic Education."
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| Basic skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic are presented and applied as tools for research and reporting. We assist the child to develop study skills so he can pursue individual interests. Group projects are undertaken at the elementary level. Math skills are put to practical use when students take turns planning, budgeting, shopping and preparing for a hot lunch once a week. |
| We use textbooks, library books, and the Internet as resources for research. Elementary students "go out" into the greater world in small group field trips to further their studies. Besides the "going-out" trips determined by individual research projects, our elementary class participates in other exciting and educational field trips. |
| At Villa di Maria, we consider each child to be an individual and we encourage self- competition. We ask each elementary child to apply himself to the fullest and be his own critic. In order to accomplish this goal we hold frequent informal counseling sessions with each individual. During these sessions we suggest pathways toward possible improvements. Reports are given to parents through conferences in fall and spring as well as written evaluations. Standardized achievement tests are administered beginning in the 3rd year on an annual basis to measure progress from year to year. |
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The Second Plane of
Development (6–12yrs.)
The child has entered the period
of the REASONING MIND in
which the endowments include
the power of imagination,
abstract thought and physical
strength. With these qualities,
they ask questions about how
and why their world works as it
does. Another quality of this time
is the importance of the child's
identity as part of a social group.
They have a very strong sense of
justice and perceived fairness
and following the rules becomes
very important. Within the inter-
actions of the community, they
develop abilities of collaboration
and responsibility and resiliency.
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