Dr. Maria Montessori spoke extensively about the importance of choice for young people. This is often misconstrued as students “doing whatever they want.” This is not the case. Rather, we expect students to find a balance between freedom and responsibility. All students are responsible for respecting themselves, each other, and the environment – a foundational philosophy students learn in Primary and carry throughout their years at Escuela.
Escuela del Sol Montessori does not provide conventional grades or quantitative assessments of a child’s work. Grading offers a limited evaluation of a student’s work and encourages the child to work for the grade. We want to encourage children to work for the intrinsic satisfaction of increasing personal competency and knowledge rather than to please adults.
Reading and writing skills blossom throughout the elementary years, not only through spelling and grammar work, but through work in all subjects. Writing develops as children research, experiment and share what they have discovered. Creative writing allows children to acquire a valuable tool for self-expression. Reading becomes an important means to satisfy their interests. Witnessing older children reading and writing spontaneously, the younger ones are highly motivated to perfect language skills that need work. With carefully structured presentations and appealing follow-up work, the teacher and child work together to accomplish these goals.
As children move into Elementary, they develop a strong interest in ethics and fair play. The same impulse that led the young child to insist, “help me to do it by myself,” for physical tasks — putting on a coat, carrying a chair, or opening a door — now moves into the moral realm. Elementary students want to independently investigate rules of behavior and roles in a group. Their questions move from “What is that?” to “WHY is that?”
View Escuela del Sol and Harwood Art Center’s 2019-2021 Community Report.
Help Escuela create dynamic, lush, and edible outdoor classrooms by purchasing plant starts, seeds, or whole garden beds!
Going Out is an essential part of the Montessori educational experience. Elementary children are ready to reach beyond the classroom and expand their learning to real-life situations. Opportunities to interact with adults and the public foster practical skills that strengthen student’s growing independence.
"Everyone talks about peace, but no one educates for peace. People educate for competition and this is the beginning of any war. When we educate to cooperate and be in solidarity with one another, that day we will be educating for peace." – Maria Montessori On...
Outdoor education has always been an integral part of Escuela’s program. History, culture, geology, biology and more come alive through lessons and experiences out in the world.
A group of 4th, 5th and 6th year Senior El students has been working on a fun project — creating a sports podcast!
Escuela del Sol Montessori • 1114 Seventh Street NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 • 505-242-3033 • 800-317-4752 (fax)
