It’s exciting that I’m asked more and more often about Montessori elementary as many of the Montessori homeschool preschoolers and Montessori primary-school students reach elementary age. Along with my regular posts, I’ll be publishing a series of posts over the next few weeks with information about Montessori elementary.
Although the Montessori primary (3-6) curriculum can easily work into the elementary years in a Montessori homeschool, the elementary curriculum is typically divided into materials for mixed-age classrooms of 6-9 year olds for lower elementary and 9-12 year olds for upper elementary.
One of the best introductions to Montessori elementary, both for Montessori school parents and Montessori homeschoolers, is to see Montessori in action in Montessori elementary schools. Here are a few helpful YouTube videos that give a glimpse into a number of Montessori elementary schools.
“Montessori Elementary (Old Version)” produced by the American Montessori Society
“Montessori Elementary”
“Joyful Schools – Montessori for the Elementary Years” produced by The Montessori Foundation
“Montessori Primary and Elementary Explained” with Sue Pritzker, Head of School at Childpeace Montessori School in Portland, Oregon
“Why Montessori Elementary” showing LePort School’s Montessori elementary program
“The Montessori Lower Elementary Classroom”
“The Upper Elementary Montessori Program”
You’ll also find two Trevor Eissler videos in my “Spread Montessori Madness” post.
I’ll look forward to sharing more Montessori elementary information and inspiration with you! 
Share your favorite kids’ activities! Link up Montessori-inspired lessons and activities here at Montessori Monday! Link up kids’ activities of all types at the Weekly Kid’s Co-op!
I'm Deb Chitwood. My header photo models are my children, Christina, at 1 1/2, my son, Will, at 3, and Christina again at 16. Christina is now 22, and Will is 27. Please see the 
Thanks Deb for sharing this article & videos on Montessori schools. My son will start going to school in next batch & this will give us some idea on school’s activities.
Thanks for your comment! I’m so glad the videos are helpful for you!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Outdoor Environment
Thank you! I’m excited to read more. My son will be entering a public school kindergarten in the Fall. But, I plan to continue our Montessori-inspired learning at home. Wonderful timing! I was getting nervous about finding resources.
Thanks, Sara! It’s wonderful that you’ll be continuing your Montessori-inspired learning at home! I’m looking forward to finding more resources for Montessori elementary … I’m amazed that there seem to be new resources every month!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Outdoor Environment
5:20-6:30-ish in the “Montessori Elementary (Old Video)” video above, shows a quick example of a teacher following up with a child at the end of the week – using that child’s work contract. Then it goes into the work plan (aka work contract) for a little bit. This is an important part of elementary!
Jessica recently posted..Writing – Elementary
Thanks, Jessica! Great point! I love that Montessori elementary gradually gives kids all the skills for self-motivated work. I know that my kids were very self-motivated (and successful) in college because of their ability for self-discipline and self-motivated work as a result of our Montessori orientation.
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Outdoor Environment
I *LOVE* the video ““Why Montessori Elementary” showing LePort School’s Montessori elementary program” – they do some things different from my own albums (using a particular reading program; some worksheets; etc), but the expectations of what the children are capable is RIGHT-ON. Along with the questioning of the children rather than telling them everything or almost everything; keeping them “internally motivated”; I just love this video!
Had to share!
Jessica recently posted..Elementary Montessori Continuum – or Breakage
Thanks, Jessica! I love your input on Montessori elementary! I think many people are surprised to learn that good Montessori programs aren’t all the same. I always love seeing Montessori schools in action … so much inspiration yet each in its own way!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Outdoor Environment
Deb,
I am so excited about this series!! Thank you for posting!
Rachel
http://discoverykidzone.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Rachel! I’m having fun researching the Montessori elementary resources available now. It’s so great that there are more resources available all the time!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Outdoor Environment
I’m excited to see this series of posts! There’s so much out there for the primary years, but very little for the elementary level! Can’t wait for the rest! Thanks!
Beth H recently posted..A Short History of Big History and Other Great Great Lesson Stuff
Thanks, Beth! I’m having fun with this, too!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Outdoor Environment
This is tremendously helpful information. The closest experience I had to this type of teaching was a long time ago in MATH THEIR WAY classes. I just love the focus on the child and helping them build their own meaning in learning and providing help only when needed. I like it that children are not pushed and learn at their own levels. Thanks so much, Carolyn
Carolyn Wilhelm recently posted..FREE Japan Presentations for SMART board and Power Point
Thanks, Carolyn! I found that using Montessori principles with my own children in our homeschool helped them become very self-motivated and self-directed. And they actually still love learning even after graduating from college!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – Montessori-Inspired Outdoor Environment
[...] Introduction to Montessori Elementary [...]
Here is a post I recently did that shows how I organized my brain to understand the connections from primary to elementary – in hopes it might be of help to someone else
http://montessoritrails.blogspot.com/2012/04/primary-albums-elementary-albums-too.html
Jessica recently posted..Exercises of Practical Life – Elementary
Thanks so much for sharing that, Jessica! I think it’s very helpful, especially for Montessori homeschoolers who are wondering how to proceed to the elementary level.
Deb recently posted..Free Montessori Elementary Materials Online
love your website. i am in south africa and my daughter is doing a theme on olympics and all sorts of shape, could you send me some of these activities to do with her and for her to take a shape or olypic theme
thanks aisha
Thanks so much for your kind comment, Aisha! I haven’t done any posts on the Olympics yet. I have a post on DIY Geometric Shapes if that helps at all: http://livingmontessorinow.com/2011/12/05/montessori-monday-diy-geometric-shapes/. Hopefully, you can find lots of Olympic activities through Google. Good luck!
Deb recently posted..Free Montessori Elementary Materials Online
[...] my earlier Montessori elementary posts, see Introduction to Montessori Elementary, Montessori Elementary Homeschool Inspiration and Ideas, and Free Montessori Elementary Montessori [...]