Welcome

In Westmont’s Upper Elementary Montessori Program, students thrive in a multi-grade 4-6 classroom. This means students can choose to go faster or slower as they uncover each subject. It also allows older students to mentor younger ones, deeply benefiting both. Children enjoy low student-teacher ratios, receiving appropriate attention as they are encouraged to become independent learners.

We typically see our students come alive with natural curiosity. They learn through child-centered, collaborative experiences in the natural world and classroom, rather than filling in worksheets that will be soon forgotten. In this way, we surpass the expectations set by the British Columbia required curriculum.

If your child is new to the Montessori method, rest assured we know how to integrate them fairly easily. The tailored nature of the program helps this process a lot!

Stories from Upper Elementary

Alan and Sarah share their views on Upper Elementary (Grades 4-6) and how a caring school community acts and feels at Westmont Montessori School in Victoria BC.

Juniper was rather unhappy at her previous school. Crispin suggested a change to Westmont Montessori School. What a difference a change in approach can make to re-ignite the love of learning.

The Montessori Elementary Model

Montessori instruction requires the active personal pursuit of many different experiences: physical, social, emotional and cognitive. The environment is carefully prepared so that the children can move independently from one area to another. Each room has a Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, Cultural and Art area. Freedom, independence, social development and academic learning are all important facets of the Montessori Method.

Montessori Method
Emphasis is on cognitive and social development
Teacher has unobtrusive role in classroom
Environment and method encourage self-discipline
Mainly individual instruction
Mixed age grouping
Grouping encourages children to teach and help each other
Child chooses own work
Child discovers own concepts from self-teaching materials
Child works as long as he wishes on chosen project
Child sets own learning pace
Child spots own errors from feedback of material
Child reinforces own learning by repetition of work and internal feelings of success
Multi-sensory materials for physical exploration
Traditional Method
Emphasis is on cognitive development
Teacher is center of classroom as “controller”
Teacher is primary enforcer of discipline
Group and individual instruction
Same age grouping
Most teaching is done by the teacher
Curriculum is structured for the child
Child is guided to concepts by the teacher
Child is generally allotted specific time for work
Instruction pace is usually set by group norm
Errors usually are pointed out by the teacher
Learning is reinforced externally by repetition and rewards
Fewer materials for sensory development

13 Key Elements of Lower Elementary

Inspires students to become independent learners who appreciate and understand their world

Increased focus on abstract understanding versus concrete learning

Greater understanding of the inter-relatedness of all curriculum areas using Montessori’s Great Lessons

 

Students choose their work in the same manner they learned in Early Years and Lower Elementary programs

Includes exploration days with activities such as cooking, sewing, drama, art and cultural experiences

Allows students to work at their own pace to practice and master goals, using an extensive selection of Montessori materials

Expects students to become increasingly responsible for their own learning

 

Individual and small group presentations are given by teachers

Individualized work plans allow students to set goals, make appropriate choices, and use their time wisely

Specialty instruction in French, Art and Music

Emphasizes the acquisition of community citizenship, virtues and leadership skills

 

Field trips, on-site learning garden and other outdoor experiences

 

A unique Marimba program in which students learn music appreciation, theory, and performance skills

 

Inspires students to become independent learners who appreciate and understand their world

Increased focus on abstract understanding versus concrete learning

Greater understanding of the inter-relatedness of all curriculum areas using Montessori’s Great Lessons

Students choose their work in the same manner they learned in the Early Primary program

Includes exploration days with activities such as cooking, sewing, drama, art and cultural experiences

Allows students to work at their own pace to practice and master goals, using an extensive selection of Montessori materials

Expects students to become increasingly responsible for their own learning

Individual and small group presentations are given by teachers

Individualized work plans allow students to set goals, make appropriate choices, and use their time wisely

Specialty instruction in French, Art and Music

Emphasizes the acquisition of community citizenship, virtues and leadership skills

 

Field trips, on-site learning garden and other outdoor experiences

 

A unique Marimba program in which students learn music appreciation, theory, and performance skills