Programs
Warm and inviting classrooms where children are treated with respect and multi-age grouping creates a community of happy students who mentor, inspire and learn from one another. Low child-to-teacher ratios ensure each child is guided through the curriculum, receives many individual and small group lessons each day and ultimately achieves his or her academic potential.
Primary
Our Primary Program is for children ages 3 through 6. Children who are 3-4 may attend five days per week either full-day or half day in the morning or afternoon.
The environment
Warm and inviting classrooms where children are treated with respect and multi-age grouping creates a community of happy students who mentor, inspire and learn from one another. child-to-teacher ratios ensure each child is guided through the curriculum, receives many individual and small group lessons each day and ultimately achieves his or her academic potential.
The curriculum
Exposure in the formative years to a broad range of knowledge in culture, geography and science provides “hooks in the brain” for all future learning. Hands-on materials bring abstract concepts to life, helping children to comprehend in a deep and meaningful way. Children experience personal pride and feelings of self-worth associated with working independently and for their own purposes, by following through on their tasks and producing exceptional work. Opportunities are presented for children to choose their own work, to work for uninterrupted time periods and to repeat activities; all of this is essential to the development of self-direction, attention span and concentration.
Beyond the classroom
An emphasis is placed on community service and helping others. Active instruction in peacemaking, conflict resolution strategies and respect for others promotes sociability. Outdoor classrooms and gardens, field trips and guest speakers enhance the extensive curriculum. Children are given ample time in the outdoor environment by spending time in the garden and in other natural settings.
Lower Elementary
Maple Corner Montessori offers a world-class Lower Elementary Program for Kindergarten through Second Grade.
The environment
Small group and individual lessons allow the teacher to fully engage students while encouraging critical thinking and self-directed learning in a warm, supportive environment.
The curriculum
The Lower Elementary Program at Maple Corner encourages students to explore the world of ideas and creativity. It is here that students, still using hands-on Montessori materials, begin to move from the tangible learning of their Primary experience to more abstract concepts. We enhance our student's learning with a deep, immersive, and rich study of history, geography, and the sciences.
These subjects are the basis of the students’ awe-filled adventure in the pursuit of learning with the goal of producing independent, creative students who are capable of incorporating reading, writing and independent thinking into all areas of the curriculum.
Beyond the classroom
Our academic curriculum is enhanced with community service, local field trips, and distance fieldtrips to OMSI Outdoor School (3rd grade only). Children are also learning the skills of cooperative learning, care of plants and animals, and responsibility.
Upper Elementary
Maple Corner Montessori offers a world-class upper elementary program for third through sixth grades.
The environment
An intimate and supportive environment, where students know they are respected and valued as individuals, encourages self-expression, exploration and progressive thinking. Multi-age grouping encourages cooperation over competition and allows children to advance to higher levels without the hindrance of relating grade level to academics. Small group or individual lessons allows the teacher to guide each student and maximize their potential.
The curriculum
An integrated curriculum of broad and fascinating knowledge in science, history and geography is revisited in greater and more challenging depth each year. Intellectually stimulating, the program also provides opportunities for students to gain valuable life skills such as organization, self-direction, personal responsibility and interpersonal cooperation. High academic standards require students to truly master a subject before moving on. Computers and technology support all areas of the curriculum.
Beyond the classroom
An emphasis is placed on community service and helping others. Working with the gardens complements the science curriculum. Additionally, our school believes in the importance of learning through dynamic real-world experiences. Because of this, local curriculum-inspired fieldtrips are combined with distance fieldtrips to OMSI Outdoor School, Catalina Island Marine Institute, and AstroCamp in California.
Middle School
Maple Corner Montessori offers middle school program up to 8th grade that is on par with any top private school in the country.
The environment
The MCM adolescent learns self-discipline and personal accountability in an evolving, non-judgemental environment of respect, emphasizing a sense of membership in and responsibility to their world and community.
The curriculum
The academically challenging curriculum at Maple Corner Middle School is designed to inspire creative thinking and academic skills. A passionate team of teachers create a sense of awe as they engage students in a variety of discussions about literature, historical origins, and conflict resolution. Students learn, practice, and master a variety of writing techniques as they find their own voice and learn to express themselves with clarity and precision. In math, the foundation built from the Montessori math materials is now almost fully abstract as we focus on critical thinking, problem solving, and building a strong algebraic foundation. Additionally, an engaging science curriculum provides students with investigations in both the laboratory and the field.
Beyond the classroom
The middle school years are enhanced with electives provided by the incredible UCC campus. Additionally, we spotlight respectful discourse and understanding of a variety of perspectives as well as a responsibility for one’s growth in moral character and mindfulness. This approach prepares the students for even the most rigorous adaptations of high school and beyond while maintaining and building their lifelong love of learning.
Enrichment
Maple Corner Montessori believes in providing a wide and diverse, multi-sensory exposure to the science and the arts.
The arts
The arts are an important part of our Montessori curriculum. In our Primary classes, music and art play a large role in daily lessons and activities. Our Lower and Upper Elementary classes enjoy art, music, and drama as a part of their specials rotations as well as embedded into classroom lessons.
Physical Education
PE class is offered twice a week to our Lower and Upper Elementary students. As we are a part of the UCC campus, our PE teacher incorporates the track, fields, and hiking trails into many of our PE classes.
S.T.E.A.M.
Science, technology, engineering, art and math play a major role in student learning every day. It is interwoven in our cultural curriculum and also used in our tinkering workshops in the Upper Elementary class.