Montessori Lower Elementary Curriculum

Hilltop's Lower Elementary (first through third grade) curriculum focuses on Language Arts, Math, Science, History, and Geography. Extra-curricular studies including P.E., Spanish, art, computer technology, and music are also incorporated for all students.

Lower Elementary language studies include listening and speaking skills, reading skills, spelling skills, and writing skills.

Specific Objectives for Lower Elementary Language

Listening and Speaking Skills

1.00 Receptive skills
     1.10 Listens to others with eye contact and positive body language               
            demonstrating respect for others
     1.20 Follows verbal directions – up to four steps
     1.30 Blocks out extraneous noise/conversations and maintains work focus2.00 Speaking skills
     2.10 Speaks publicly before a small group, communicating ideas effectively
     2.20 Participates in discussion activities regarding reading
     2.30 Participates in drama, play, music performance activities
     2.40 Discusses readings, “Shares”, and projects within the context of
            personal experiences and life situations

Reading Skills

1.00 Word Study
     1.10 Defines and creates compound words
     1.20 Defines and identifies: root word, suffixes, prefixes
     1.30 Defines and applies examples
          1.30.1 Antonyms
          1.30.2 Synonyms
          1.30.3 Homonyms
          1.30.4 Similes
          1.30.5 Metaphors
          1.30.6 Rhyming words
     1.40 Determines number of syllables in a word
     1.50 Alphabetizes to the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th letter
     1.60 Uses reference texts appropriately
          1.60.1 Dictionary: Locates words, parts of speech, and definitions
                    using guide words.
          1.60.2 Thesaurus: Locates synonyms
          1.60.3 Encyclopedia: Locates information an a topic
          1.60.4 Atlas
          1.60.5 Almanac
          1.60.6 Telephone book
          1.60.7 Uses Computer card catalog or Dewey decimal system
                    for locating information in library
     1.70 Classifies vocabulary terms and creates a chart
     1.80 Reads orally with fluency, accuracy, and comprehension
2.00 Grammar
     2.10 Defines parts of speech and identifies each part within a sentence
            noun (proper and common); adjective; article; verb; preposition;
            pronouns; adverbs; interjections; conjunctions
     2.20 Locates within a sentence: subject; predicate; direct object
3.00 Comprehension
     3.10 Sequences events in a story by beginning, middle, an end
     3.20 Reads and answers comprehension questions on grade level
            with > 80% accuracy
     3.30 Determines fact or opinion in statements
     3.40 Determines cause and effect
     3.50 Makes predictions, draws inferences, and conclusions from what is read
     3.60 Relates and compares reading material to real life experiences
4.00 Combined tasks
     4.10 Works independently to complete a task by following written directions
     4.20 Reads for pleasure *
          4.20.1 Defines and identifies: legends; myths; fairy tales; biographies;
                    autobiographies, fiction; non-fiction
     4.30 Participates in Jr. Great Books reading with vocabulary enrichment
            and assignments
     4.40 Reads pictographs, tables, charts, and graphs with accuracy and
            answers questions for comprehension

Spelling Skills

1.00 Uses spelling strategies to accurately spell words
2.00 Adds plural endings: s, -es, -ies and irregular plurals
3.00 Uses contractions appropriately
4.00 Spells words on grade level using knowledge of spelling rules and patterns
5.00 Studies for spelling/vocabulary tests and takes test with ease

Writing Skills

1.00 Handwriting
     1.10 Writes legibly in manuscript, with margins and spacing
     1.20 Writes legibly in cursive, with margins and spacing
2.00 Language mechanics
     2.10 Capitalizes correctly
     2.20 Utilizes punctuation correctly: End marks; commas; quotation marks;
            colons; semicolons; hyphens; abbreviations; apostrophes
3.00 Writing Skills
     3.10 Beginning skills
          3.10.1 Writes 3 types of sentences: declarative; imperative; interrogatory
          3.10.2 Writes a description utilizing adjectives
          3.10.3 Writes a paragraph accurately with correct capitalization,
                    punctuation and topic sentences
          3.10.4 Writes a persuasive paragraph
          3.10.5 Groups topics into paragraphs
          3.10.6 Understands writing process: planning, drafting, revising, editing,
                    publishing
     3.20 Intermediate skills
          3.20.1 Writes a journal entry
          3.20.2 Writes poems, including a haiku poem
          3.20.3 Completes a story in own word when given a story starter
          3.20.4 Writes an autobiography
          3.20.5 Writes a short summary of a book previously read
          3.20.6 Writes a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end
          3.20.7 Writes a friendly letter or thank you note with correct structure
          3.20.8 Writes descriptive essay
          3.20.9 Writes a newspaper article with headline and byline
     3.30 Advanced skills
          3.30.1 Illustrates a story map
          3.30.2 Groups topics into paragraphs
          3.30.3 Writes a comparison paragraph using a Venn Diagram for a draft
          3.30.4 Creates an outline from material read
          3.30.5 Takes notes on important information
          3.30.6 Begins general research activities: Finds books, uses index,
                    uses table of contents, records information
          3.30.7 Paraphrases information from information
          3.30.8 Writes short research paper with a bibliography
          3.30.9 Uses a computer to publish a story or work
          3.30.10 Completes assignments within deadline, demonstrating
                      responsibility for 4th grade
          3.30.11 Utilizes computer for word processing and research

* Reading is accomplished through “Read-Aloud”, self-selection, and by assignment for group discussion work. Reading spans the gamut from picture books, beginning readers, short prose, poetry, SRA’s, Barnell-Loft, chapter books, Junior Great Books, Caldecott Books, Newberry Books, and beginning classics.

Listed are some of the available selections from Junior Great Books: