Elementary Experience
The elementary years are a period of tremendous intellectual activity and interest. Students are actively questioning every dimension of life and culture that has come to exist. The Montessori elementary curriculum accommodates this innate intellectual interest and serves to motivate students to pursue and express their interests in all subject areas. This curriculum encompasses introductory and in-depth work and exploration in language, mathematics, music, zoology, botany, geography, art, and drama. Cascadia School also encourages students to appreciate the diversity of people of all backgrounds and cultures, and to develop a positive self-image within this broad framework.
Social Development
The elementary student has an emerging social consciousness. This awareness is addressed in the Montessori classroom through small group lessons and projects, collaborative experiences between peers and teachers at every level, individual and group decision-making opportunities regarding class work and community issues, and through participation in conflict resolution activities.
Classroom Community
The elementary age student is learning to be an individual who is an integral part of a larger group. This sense of belonging and participation in a larger community is fostered by encouraging individual students to participate in meaningful group decisions. This process is further developed through the multi-year tenure that students experience in each level. Each level encompasses a three year span.
Beyond the Classroom
The Montessori elementary classroom cannot contain within its four walls all that students need and desire to know. In-class activites motivate students to continue their learning and growth through small and large group experiences outside of school. These outside experiences occur throughout the year, and include nature studies and hiking excursions, cultural events, small group research excursions (library, museums, etc.), and an extended (2-4 day) Spring trip to a regional science field camp.
Accreditation
Cascadia School Montessori Elementary is fully certified by the state of Washington and Cascadia teachers are all AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) certified. Individual teachers hold additional qualifications (Washington state and otherwise). Cascadia School is affiliated with the Vancouver Montessori School, which provides Montessori education for children between the ages of three and six.