The curriculum in the Primary classrooms  supports  the natural ability of 3-5 year old children  to absorb  a wealth of information and refine their senses. The children receive individual lessons in reading, math, writing, geography, and biology as well as lessons on care of self and care of the environment. These activities foster the development of  independence and concentration in the children.  In addition, a music teacher guides them through activities on a weekly basis. 

 

Kindergarten-aged children attend the regular primary classes but have an additional period (Extended Day) where they work with their peers on more challenging academic work and may have opportunities to concentrate on longer projects. They also have a weekly library,  Spanish  and gym class.

 

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In the Lower Elementary, grades 1-3, the work that was begun in the Primary and Extended Day years continues but now the child has learned to reason and enjoys a more social environment.

Our curriculum continues along a strong academic path but also supports the social and moral development of the children by allowing them to move about in the classroom and collaborate with their peers. The children now receive their lessons in a small group  and learn at their own pace. Many of the lessons appeal to the imagination of the child and their desire to explore the universe.  Their classrooms are filled with Montessori materials that allow them to work with introduced concepts in a concrete manner and move to the abstraction when they are ready.  Along with their Montessori lessons, the lower elementary children have reading, art, music, gym, and Spanish specialists that meet with them during the week.

In the Upper Elementary classroom ( ages 9-12yrs.),  the children have developed the skills for in-depth projects and have a greater ability to collaborate with other students. They enjoy lessons in larger groups, participate in literature groups  and partake in more community outings. 

They enjoy preparing meals in their classroom kitchen and caring  for out door spaces as well as interacting with the children in the younger grades as reading buddies or mentors. They continue to receive Montessori lessons across all academic areas from two main classroom teachers and also work with specialists in art gym, and Spanish. 

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The Adolescent program  is a community of  7th and 8th grade students who work cooperatively and experience a higher level of freedom coupled with a greater sense of responsibility. Their environment is a non-competitive setting where “real work” is as much a part of the curriculum as academic subject areas. 

 

The students enjoy their work in the greenhouse and the nature center.  They grow, raise and sell seedlings and plants. They spend time at the Root River for river testing and monitoring in the fall and spring and they volunteer their time in the community in such places as the Eco-Justice Center and the H.A.L.O. homeless shelter. 

 

Two main teachers guide their  academic learning where these students can advance as far as they are able in math, algebra, geometry, languages and the sciences. They also have specialists in art, Spanish, and gym.  

We offer a before- and after-school, on-site child care program for children who attend RMS. We carefully structure this area to follow Montessori principles.  

 

This program concentrates its efforts on caring for children in a comfortable, home-type setting.  Our child care staff is well-trained and loving; the facility is clean, fun, and interesting.