Upper Elementary

Our Upper Elementary Program centers around five goals:

Individualize the Curriculum

Language: During the 9-12 years of age, students delve deeper into literature, tackling complex plots. Reading, writing, vocabulary, and spelling skills are based on the literary work in the classroom. In our daily circle time conversations, students participate in formal and informal meetings to voice their opinion, understand opposing viewpoints, and draw conclusions. Complex literary texts encourage students to examine the characters and their motives. In grammar, students learn to diagram sentences and apply rules of punctuation in sentence formation. Writing skills include penmanship practice, essay writing, and creative writing. Students learn the Five Steps of the Writing Process as they work on their S.T.E.A.M. Faire reports. Creative writing assignments promote self-expression. Students collaborate to memorize poems and perform plays during school assemblies. Our students enjoy reading aloud to their Lower Elementary Reading Buddies every week. 

Mathematics: Students make a leap into abstract thinking for basic math operations and continue to work with Montessori materials to comprehend advanced math concepts. Montessori materials continue to be helpful for higher-level math concepts like calculating square and cube roots, exploring polynomials and exponentials, learning the Pythagorean Theorem, finding area and volume, working with fractions, decimals and percentages, and recognizing relationships between multiples and factors.

Our individualized approach helps students develop a strong understanding of the concepts while learning new topics in pre-algebra and algebra. The geometry materials promote the discovery of properties of basic shapes and polygons, equivalences, and the study of the circle in depth. Pi Day is special at T.E.C., where students not only demonstrate the calculation of Pi but also make a variety of pies to eat! Students apply their mathematical knowledge in day-to-day applications in the classroom as well as through interdisciplinary S.T.E.A.M. projects. 

Foster Autonomy 

With our Montessori math curriculum and language arts programs in Worcester, students develop self-management skills and intrinsic motivation for learning. An Upper Elementary student grows into a disciplined individual who is “master of himself and can, therefore, regulate his own conduct when it shall be necessary to follow some rule of life” (Maria Montessori).

Dr. Montessori recognized that freedom and responsibility are important elements that help a child learn self-governance of actions. Students at T.E.C. are free to move, choose activities, and voice their opinion freely. Students are also responsible for their behavior and academic progress. In Upper Elementary, students learn to self-regulate their emotions as they navigate through a carefully prepared grace and courtesy curriculum. Our teachers support our students to negotiate through various social contexts without criticism. Fostering autonomy teaches our students to make responsible choices within limits. 

Cultivate Leaders

Students at T.E.C. take on leadership roles with ease. Our mixed-age classroom offers many opportunities for students to mentor and learn from their peers. When peer culture is important in this age group, we encourage students to stay curious, be themselves, and express their ideas. Students participate in community meetings and debates and learn problem-solving skills. Students learn public speaking and communications skills too. Teachers create opportunities for all students to bring out the best in each student. Class officer elections, student ambassador and class greeter positions, and opportunities to plan the Haunted Classroom and Overnight Field Experiences emphasize organization and planning skills. Leadership is fostered throughout the curriculum.

Promote Development of Moral Values 

The big question in the Upper Elementary years is “How do I fit in?” Students discover their purpose during their transformative journey of holistic elementary education. From ages 9-12 years, students test limits of the moral values that they have learned in the lower elementary years and are extremely sensitive to the ideas of fairness and justice. Teachers work with students to reason and discuss the consequences of their behavior. Complex plots in classical literary work and the study of ancient civilizations offer a deeper perspective of human development. Students learn to distinguish right from wrong, appropriate from inappropriate, acceptable from unacceptable. They develop a strong character and integrity by practicing our Core Values.

Encourage Exploration and Discovery

In addition to our Montessori math curriculum and language arts studies, the T.E.C. Schools in Worcester place, the study of human development through history at the core of our Upper Elementary program. Students are encouraged to learn about individual contributions to human development through Mystery History Day, where they dress up as a historical figures and share their figure’s story with the class. To understand the rise and fall of civilizations, students collaborate to research past societies and create a play every year, which they perform to teach and entertain the younger students. Through these means, students gain a deeper understanding of the relationships in the world around them and acquire the lifelong skills of inquiry and self-education.