Programs
Academy
(Preschool)
Montessori classroom entrance is best between the ages
of 3 and 4 depending on when the child can be happy and
comfortable in a classroom situation. Beginning
exercises are based on activities in Practical Life,
which all children enjoy. Materials used at ages 3 and
4 help the child to develop  concentration,
co-ordination, fine motor skill development, and working
habits necessary for the more advanced activities which
the child will perform later on. The entire learning
program is purposefully structured. Each child is met
where he/she is and encouraged to develop to the next
level in all areas.
Montessori education is a unique cycle of learning
designed to take advantage of the child’s sensitive
years, when the child absorbs information from an
enriched environment. A child who acquires the basic
skills of reading and mathematics in this way, has an
advantage of beginning his/her education without
drudgery, boredom, or discouragement. Preschool students
gain an early enthusiasm for learning when introduced to
lessons in the carefully prepared classroom environment
that incorporates structure with freedom of choice.
Charter
Elementary (Kindergarten – 6th Grade)
Elementary children, typically, can be characterized by their
questioning minds, their ability to
 abstract and imagine, and their unlimited energy for research
and exploration. In a research style of learning,
elementary children work in small groups on a variety of
projects, which spark the imagination and engage the
intellect. Lessons given by a trained Montessori teacher
direct the children toward activities which help them to
develop reasoning abilities and problem-solving skills.
Children at this age are driven to understand the
universe and their place in it. Their capacity to
assimilate all aspects of culture is boundless.
Elementary studies include geography, biology, history,
language, all branches of mathematics, as well as
science, music, and art. Exploration of each area is
encouraged through trips outside the classroom to
community resources such as libraries, planetariums,
museums, botanical gardens, science centers, etc. This
inclusive approach to education fosters a feeling of
connectedness to all humanity, and encourages their
natural desire to make contributions to their world.
Charter -
Middle School Program (7th – 8th
Grade)
The
Middle School is a two-year program whose overarching
mandate is to develop the whole student while imparting
the academic tools necessary for success in high school,
college, and adult life. The program also fosters
community building and community service.
The core subjects are Math (Pre-Algebra, Algebra, and
Geometry), Science,
History, Language Arts, and Computer Skills.
The
Language Arts curriculum focuses on reading
comprehension, creative writing, and critical thinking
skills. The goal of the Sterling Montessori Middle
School Writing Curriculum is to produce graduating
eighth graders that have mastered the form of the
academic essay, the necessary prompt writing skills to
pass the 7th & 10th Grade Writing
Assessment Test, and the tools with which they may excel
in every form of communication.
The
Science curriculum includes a survey to the major
branches of science covered in high school: chemistry,
physics, biology, and earth science. In alternate years,
the program delves more deeply into a few of those
sciences and their subdisciplines. The instructional
style incorporates traditional methods of instruction
with cooperative learning, and emphasizes a hands-on,
inquiry-based curriculum. |