Elementary Program
Grades: 1st grade-4th grade
Ages: 6-10 years old
Our elementary program provides a welcoming space that focuses on a foundation of social-emotional awareness that paves the way for children to be connected with themselves, others and the world around them. Within the prepared environment, we guide the children in their journey of developing their love of learning, love of self and self-discipline. These things naturally grow alongside healthy boundaries and freedom within limits.
Language
Our language curriculum begins with “The Great Story of our Alphabet” that is used as an intriguing introduction and exploration of language through time and cultures. Written language occurs naturally through curiosity and is developed through sentence analysis, the writing
process, research projects, fictional narratives and more. Spoken language is practiced through oral presentations to the primary children, creative
expression of script writing and poetry readings. Grammar lessons are thoroughly enjoyed with a variety of symbols for all parts of speech along
with spelling and punctuation. The love of reading and writing is a key
component in the elementary environment fostered through individuality and engagement. Maria Montessori called this “explosion into reading and
writing”.
Mathematics
The study of mathematics is first connected to the history of how human beings as people have always wanted to know about numbers and how they are linked to all parts of our lives. Through our math lessons, we are able to illuminate the discovery of patterns and relationships between various aspects of our world. If you understand the mathematics of a topic of interest, the door opens to knowing the why and how of it works. We start with engaging materials to offer a visual representation and hands on experience to the foundations of math. Through practice and discovery, the children move towards abstraction with exposure to all of the operations, geometry and algebra meeting each child where they are at—so they may be confident and successful.
Mathematics
The study of mathematics is first connected to the history of how human beings as people have always wanted to know about numbers and how they are linked to all parts of our lives. Through our math lessons, we are able to illuminate the discovery of patterns and relationships between various aspects of our world. If you understand the mathematics of a topic of interest, the door opens to knowing the why and how of it works. We start with engaging materials to offer a visual representation and hands on experience to the foundations of math. Through practice and discovery, the children move towards abstraction with exposure to all of the operations, geometry and algebra meeting each child where they are at—so they may be confident and successful.
Geography, History and Science
The power of storytelling is used to build a foundation of curiosity and connection to the world we live in through five great stories. These are told with great joy through impressionistic charts and experiments to encourage discussion and research opportunities
encompassing all areas of our curriculum:
-The Story of the Universe
-Coming of Life
-The Story of Humans
-The Story of Communication
-The Story of Numbers
Art
Self-expression is an integral piece of a child’s learning and we encourage children to integrate art through their individual projects as a way to enrich and expand on their academic endeavors. Group projects are completed throughout various opportunities in the community such as the San Benito County, San Benito Recology and our school-wide musicals that are student-led twice a year presented to families with a great sense of pride and creatively driven hard work.
Art
Self-expression is an integral piece of a child’s learning and we encourage children to integrate art through their individual projects as a way to enrich and expand on their academic endeavors. Group projects are completed throughout various opportunities in the community such as the San Benito County, San Benito Recology and our school-wide musicals that are student-led twice a year presented to families with a great sense of pride and creatively driven hard work.
Social Thinking
We implement the use of emotional-regulation tools through self-awareness and empathy towards others through daily practice. There is an integration of social thinking lessons to help our students navigate socially in and outside of school. As a class, we collaboratively create “Caring Community Guidelines” that are the expectations on how to connect and appropriately be present in the Little Tree Community. Children learn tools such as, “Thought bubble versus Speech Bubble”, creating compassionate boundaries with peers using “I” statements, speaking our truth kindly and clearly as well as navigating peace meetings with a solution based to solution-based.
Social Thinking
We implement the use of emotional-regulation tools through self-awareness and empathy towards others through daily practice. There is an integration of social thinking lessons to help our students navigate socially in and outside of school. As a class, we collaboratively create “Caring Community Guidelines” that are the expectations on how to connect and appropriately be present in the Little Tree Community. Children learn tools such as, “Thought bubble versus Speech Bubble”, creating compassionate boundaries with peers using “I” statements, speaking our truth kindly and clearly as well as navigating peace meetings with a solution based to solution-based.
Accountability
Accountability
Cooking
With recipes from around the world, the children are able to experience holidays from other countries with some traditional foods.
Learning the basics of cooking/baking (adjusting a recipe, problem solving, budgeting and planning) the children perform each aspect from planning which recipe, making lists, going to the grocery store and making the items
for themselves and the Primary class. This is all done with diligent guidance, allowing them to build these skills in a safe and carefully regulated manner.
Cooking
With recipes from around the world, the children are able to experience holidays from other countries with some traditional foods.
Learning the basics of cooking/baking (adjusting a recipe, problem solving, budgeting and planning) the children perform each aspect from planning which recipe, making lists, going to the grocery store and making the items
for themselves and the Primary class. This is all done with diligent guidance, allowing them to build these skills in a safe and carefully regulated manner.