Curriculum, Lessons, and Work

Teachers use the Montessori curriculum, as well as the Indiana State Standards, to plan lessons for students based on their individual needs. Students then direct learning by pursuing their own interests within a content area, particularly in Language and Culture.

A significant goal of the elementary program, as Dr. Montessori saw it, is to help children understand the world around them and their responsibility toward it. She saw this “Cosmic Education” as the means for transforming our world into a place of peace. Montessori believed that this goal of a peaceful world could only be met through strengthening students’ ability to classify, understand, appreciate, and empathize with the world, its people, and its history. To this end, the Montessori Curriculum in Lower Elementary is based off of the five Great Lessons:

1. The Coming of the Universe

2. The Coming of Life

3. The Coming of Humans

4. The Story of Writing

5. The Story of Numbers

From these Great Lessons emerge our overarching areas of study for Culture: history, biology, physical science, and geography. We also use these Great Lessons to enrich Language and Math, integrating subject areas wherever possible. Students receive individual, small group, and occasionally whole group lessons in all subject areas. These lessons frequently include follow-up work designed to help the student practice a new skill or develop a new understanding. The student starts each day by planning work in his/her/their work plan. The style of work plans varies both between classrooms and individual students, but all work plans are designed so that a student can independently plan his/ her/their own day, prioritize specific work, and grow at his/her/their own pace.

Field Trips, Outings, and Overnight

Dr. Montessori wrote extensively about the importance of “going out” during a child’s second plane of development. The preparation “to go out” is as important as the outing itself. With guidance from a teacher, the child “understands that ‘to go out’ consists of an activity that requires first the acquisition of information and materials” (Montessori, 1948). Outings bring ideas, plans, and goals to a culmination in a live experience.

Monthly Outings to the Grocery Store

Each year, your student will have the opportunity to work in a small group to plan and prepare a snack for the class. While the outing revolves around the simple preparation of a snack, it requires a significant amount of planning and preparation. The child is aware of the sequential steps (choosing a recipe, listing ingredients, shopping, etc.), but he or she is also thinking on many different levels, considering time management, budgeting, quantities, and courtesy regarding the needs of others.

Other Outings & Field Trips and Fees

When possible, other possible outings and field trips are carefully considered by teachers. Purposeful experiences must provide the students “with culture and to enlarge [their] social experiences” (Montessori, 1948). Parents will receive advanced notification should additional trips be scheduled.

For field trips, we may charge an additional fee of $100 per student.

Parent Involvement

Overnight

An overnight field trip is planned each year. This trip allows the children to stay away from home in a safe, controlled, and fun setting with familiar friends and adults. All teachers attend this trip and are with students at all times. We do not take parent chaperones on the overnight trip.

Your child may express anxiety at the idea of staying away from home; this is completely natural! We will work with you and your student to plan for any accommodations he or she may need, from diet restrictions to bedwetting. We’ll do all we can to ensure your child feels confident and comfortable during our overnight trip.

Chaperones

Parents interested in being a chaperone for field trips must have a background check (see attached) performed by school administration. If you are interested in chaperoning, or in volunteering in the classroom, please complete this form and return it to your classroom teacher.

We are always interested in the special talents and hobbies our parents and community members can share with the class. In the past, parents have shared their expertise in knitting, weaving, ornithology, foreign languages, picturebook publishing, anatomy, and more. Please reach out to your classroom teachers if you have something you would like to share with the children. Again, all families are welcome, but please be sure to complete the parent Background Check form. Classroom observations are welcome and can be scheduled between 9am and 11am If you are interested in observing your child’s class, please email Sarah Shanton-Cox (sshantoncox@oakfarmschool.com)and copy your child’s classroom teachers.

Gum

We have found that for some children, chewing of gum can aid in concentration during work time. If a piece of gum will aid your child’s success during the work cycle, he or she may bring gum to school. All gum must be sugar-free and may not be shared with classmates. Any additional expectations around gum will be addressed in classroom meetings and communicated with families.

Snacks & Cooking

Students may bring a small snack to be eaten during the three-hour work cycle. Snacks should be small servings that can be eaten in five minutes. The snack should be nutritional and contain fewer than 12 grams of sugar.

Lower Elementary students cook in the classroom several times throughout the year. After a grocery store outing, students will work in small groups to prepare a healthy snack for their classmates. Students may also have the opportunity to work with the school chef to assist with school lunch preparation.

Oak Farm Montessori is a low-sugar school. We encourage families to turn to whole foods—organic and locally grown whenever possible—as the staples for your child’s nutritional needs. Remember that high sugared foods and beverages with labels containing more than the recommended 12 grams of added sugar are discouraged from lunches and snacks. Also candy, fast foods (with the exception of Subway), or soda can NOT be included in lunches or snacks. Refer to the school parent handbook for more details regarding a healthy diet.

Birthdays

Please do not send treats or gifts to school to celebrate your child’s birthday. Alternatively, you may consider donating a book to the class in your child’s name, or sharing a light snack with classmates. In the past, students have shared pretzels, yogurt parfaits, and favorite fruits with the class. Please send any party invitations to individual homes, as feelings can be easily hurt when selective invitations are delivered at school.

Another fun idea and well appreciated by all students is to donate an activity, such as, ice cream in a bag, making Oobleck, or making friendship bracelets. These are just a few ideas. If you find anything else exciting, please share these ideas with your child’s teacher.

Homework

The most important academic activity a child should participate in outside of school is to read at least 20 minutes a day, five to six days per week. Research shows that this has a significant impact on a child’s overall academic growth. Encourage your child to read independently, to a sibling, to a stuffed animal, to a pet, or to you!

Occasionally, students may bring home a long-term project, or follow up work that was not completed at school. In the event that unexpected work is sent home for completion, teachers will notify parents. We ask parents to support this work as best as possible, and contact teachers should any questions or difficulties arise regarding assignments.

Clothing

Your child will be responsible for bringing a change of clothes to school and switching out those items when needed. Details regarding extra clothing can be found in the supply list. Please mark all items with your child’s name. We follow the following temperature guidelines with regard to outdoor clothing:

• 0-30° or snowing: “Fab Five” required (coat, hat, gloves/mittens, snow pants, snow boots)

• 31-44° without precipitation: Coat, hat, gloves/mittens

• 31-44° with precipitation: Coat, hat, gloves/ mittens, mud/snow boots

• 45-50° without precipitation: Coat

• 45-50° with precipitation: Coat/rain coat, mud boots

• 50° or above: Teacher discretion

Personal Music

Personal electronic devices (including but not limited to Smart Watches, cell phones, etc.) may only be used at school for meaningful learning purposes, with prior discussion and approval of the teachers. Electronics will only be permitted on field trips if needed for learning purposes. If at any time a student uses electronics in a manner that is disrespectful or disruptive to the learning environment, the temporary or per manent loss of electronic privileges may occur.

Attendance

Please refrain from planning vacation during school time. It is hard on the students to make up the lessons they missed during their absence. It may feel overwhelming to your child when they return.

We really care about our students and would kindly ask that you email classroom teachers as well as attendance@oakfarmschool.com when your child will be absent.

Grace, Courtesy, and Conflict Resolution

Each classroom works as a community to develop common vocabulary for use when conflicts arise. Students are encouraged to attempt to resolve disagreements independently using this common language. When mild conflicts arise and are brought to a teacher’s attention, the first question we will usually ask is, “What have you already done to try to solve this problem?” If the student or students need support, we will help them to find the right words to express their feelings and find a solution.

In the event of a continuing issue or physical confrontation between students, teachers will work with the students involved to resolve the conflict and plan alternative behaviors. Parents will be notified by phone call or email. If needed, parents and teachers will meet with the Director of Student Services to discuss behaviors in more depth, or to create a Behavior Action Plan for the student.

Transition

It is normal for students to be apprehensive about moving to a new environment. They need time to adjust to the new classroom, teachers, and students. Encourage them to communicate with you about their experience while being aware of the transition period. Please reach out to your classroom teachers with any questions or concerns. We understand that the transition to Lower Elementary can be stressful for the parent, as well as the student. If you are interested in learning more about the second plane of development or Montessori Elementary education, suggested readings can be found in the Oak Farm Montessori Parent Handbook.