Meadow Montessori was mentioned on the Playschool6 yahoo list recently. I ended up printing the overviews for each level because they were so helpful. Diehard Waldorf, classical, and Montessori educators will insist they are worlds apart philosophically. I won’t argue with them however one cannot deny the myriad similarities in the scope and sequence. These common factors make course content and materials selection easier for the home educator.

Some highlights from lower elementary:

The children coming from the Montessori preschool program have a strong foundation in phonics and word-sound recognition. This base is continually strengthened through the use of beautiful alphabet books.

The choice of reading material is determined in part by the teacher, and in part by the interests of the students. The reading material of the Junior Class is carefully integrated into all parts of the curriculum. History, science and geography are all enhanced by the addition of great children’s literature. Reading is not a separate subject taught at a special time. It is an integral part of the entire classroom.

In the first year, history lessons teach the concept of time. How can we understand history if we cannot understand the passing of time from hours to weeks to centuries and beyond?

The second-year student works through the geometric nomenclature learning the name, etymology and definition of the following basic concepts: lines, angles, figures, triangles and quadrilaterals. More important than the nomenclature is the opportunity to construct and explore these principles using the Geometry Stick Box.

We do not see music and art as “extras,” but rather as necessary and vital parts of every child’s education. Music, art, dance and theater call upon the child to use academic skills (reading, math), and at the same time build these skills.

Middle grades:

Students work from a mathematical textbook — Saxon Math. He/she should have been presented with all of the Montessori mathematical materials. However, the materials still play an important role in the classroom. Now the student must use these materials as “proofs.” If the work calls for finding the surface area of a rectangular prism, the student must find a Montessori material and demonstrate how he/she arrived at the answer and why the answer is correct.

The student completes a traditional geometry course.

As mentioned, literature is connected with the study of history.

In a Montessori school, history is always taught from the perspective of examining the gifts we have received from those who have come before us. We live as we live today because of the work and contributions of others. We… study early civilizations — Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Rome. We move through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the French Revolution and the beginning of Nationalism.

Science is taught on a rotating three-year cycle

I loved this addition:

The Farm Program is Meadow Montessori’s first step toward the Montessori ideal of Erkinder.Objectives include helping the students replace a lost heritage of farming, make environmental connections between lessons and nature, and see the results of hard work.

High school:
The core of the program is an individualized educational plan with an emphasis on high academic performance, unique experience, and opportunities for leadership and service.
Each student is assigned a mentor who… is to guide his/her students both philosophically and practically. The mentor spends time each day with students in discussion and academic support.