#upper elementary

[turtleloonies-classroom]

The audacity to deny what’s happening RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES😭

[becoming-peaceful]

Intro to Upper Elementary

Introduction:

When I began working in my current environment, it became clear to me that I had found my passion in life. I quickly felt the understanding that I could make a meaningful impact on the next generation. I could right the wrongs that I felt I grappled with in my own education and upbringing. I felt a connection with my students that I worry other means of education would not allow me to carve time for.

My school is quite small and new. A small staff make up our guides and assistants and a small student body make up our pupils. I wanted to find where I fit in this new environment I had found myself in. Of course, if it brings any clarity, I was in the Fourth Plane of Development.

My school stopped at Lower Elementary, as at the time we only had one trained LE guide on our entire staff. We connected quickly and I was deeply fascinated by her classroom and skill as a Lead Guide. On our Curriculum Night (a day where both staff and parents come together and tour each room from youngest to oldest and learn about each rooms specially catered curriculum), I listen to each of my new coworkers gush about their practice, and I knew that I wanted to be apart of it.

My interest was immediately pulled to Upper Elementary, for a few different reasons. Firstly, it was the next part in the program. Since we stopped at LE, I didn't know what the rest of Montessori education looked like. When I researched I found that I loved the work done in UE. Not only was I drawn to the work that they did, I was drawn to the idea of helping children form independent thoughts on the material and to challenge my own way of thinking.

Becoming a Lead Upper Elementary guide soon became a dream of mine. I have yet to begin my education, this is very daunting for me for a multitude of reasons. However, I hope to one day be able to lead my own classroom and make a difference in the lives of some of the most important members in society. Children.

What is Upper Elementary?

Presuming you have some understanding of what Montessori Education is (here is a reference if needed), in the simplest terms, Upper Elementary (UE) is a classroom of 9-12 year olds/4th-6th grade students.

They have similar curriculum to the previous classrooms (Nido, Toddler Community, Children's House, and Lower Elementary), describe here by OMS Montessori; "The international Elementary Montessori curriculum taps into the natural sensitivities of this age to create an energy that animates Elementary education. Dr.Montessori called this curriculum a ‘cosmic’ curriculum. Each year five great stories are told in a dramatic fashion in order to create a framework of information to which students will add detail and understanding throughout their elementary years: The story of the beginning of the universe, of life on the Earth, of human life and of the great human creations of language and of mathematics and science. These create a broad framework that invites students to explore all the traditional curriculums (the sciences, history and geography, as well as mathematics and language) creating greater depths of understanding each year."

The same school touches on what changes between Lower Elementary (ages 6-9) and Upper Elementary.

"As students move from Lower Elementary to Upper Elementary, they are moving away from reliance on concrete materials and toward greater abstraction. The framework of lessons and concepts students began in Lower Elementary are consolidated in Upper Elementary. Students at this level reach a high level of abstraction of concepts and explore themes and topics in greater depth."

This is a point I find particularly fascinating. Highlighting the sentence here "The framework of lessons and concepts students began in Lower Elementary are consolidated in Upper Elementary." helps me point out one of the parts of UE that draw me in the most.

Currently I assist in an LE classroom with an absolutely wonderful lead guide. They are incredibly passionate about the work in their classroom. It has been enlightening and fascinating watching LE students and their work. However, they only cover the very surface of subjects I find incredibly enchanting. I love to learn, it is one of my favorite pass times. I also want to be able to share my love of learning and help inspire others to feel the same way. That is where I feel my skills in UE would be most beneficial. Growing the love of going deeper and learning more and loving to learn.

Highlights in the UE Curriculum:

Here is an example of UE Scope and sequence document that goes into more detail what is covered in each of the "subjects" in the classroom.

[k12academics]

Joy Circles™ is a transformational program for young people that positively impacts their self-confidence, communication, reading, and self-

Joy Circles™ is a transformational program for young people that positively impacts their self-confidence, communication, reading, and self-management skills. The program marries the best of social-emotional learning (SEL) with reading skills improvement utilizing stories, models, and interactive group activities. Sessions are conducted by trained, certified facilitators and can take place in a variety of approved settings.

[drookieteacher]

FREE Holidays Around the World: Italy Print and Digital for 3rd - 6th Grade

This Holidays Around the World for Older Kids: Italy Freebie comes in both PRINT and DIGITAL and is a great way to integrate reading strategies and social studies concepts while learning about another country's traditions during the month of December. Your students will be engaged as they learn more...

May be able to use this for upper elementary.

[schoolcake-blog]

Math Tool Kit for Upper Elementary

[iowaarchaeology]

Sharing from Project Archaeology’s Facebook page:  A little gem from an upper elementary student in who is currently learning Project Archaeology’s new curricula, Investigating Nutrition.  Don’t miss the upcoming Investigating Nutrition online professional development for teachers! (Note, this is a pre-assessment of a student’s knowledge about archaeology BEFORE they dive into the unit and learn it’s not about fossils!)

[gidgetgrlsreading-blog]

Shipwreck Island

by S.A Booden published by Macmillan Children's Publishing

I knew I had to read and review this book as soon as I saw it was written by S.A. Booden. I loved the raft so much and have the rest of her published books on my tbr pile. Shipwreck Island starts off with a blended family finally meeting for the first time. See Sarah's mom passed away about 6 years ago and until now it's always been Sarah and her dad. Well dad (John) meet a nice woman online and they dated off and on and got married. Sarah just learned of this and is meeting her new step mom and 2 brothers for the first time. Needless to say she is not a happy girl, Marco is not a happy boy and Nacho he loves that he got a new sibling. So 1 out of 3 kids is thrilled with the new arrangement those are not great odds right? Well to make the situation even more intense they are all going on vacation together! Wow that is going to be 1 fun vacation, trust me I speak from experience. So the whole gang travels together and hits some obstacles since originally this trip was supposed to be a honeymoon for 2 and now its a family vacation for 5. They just have to make do with the circumstances they have before them. I mean once they get on the island and can relax, get to know each other and have fun everything will be alright? Right!?

What they didn't count on was the boat they were taken to the island has seen better days, I mean really that picture on the brochure must be ancient. They also hadn't counting on hit a massive, scary storm while on the ocean. While the family takes cover below deck along with the captain's dog the boat is battered and torn. The lose the captain in the sea and it's just them now. Can they find a way to all get along? Can they survive on an island till they are rescued? What is this island and why is so many scary, strange things happening? At least they still have Ahab the captain's dog with them, he alerts them of any and all trouble before it happens.

Now if they can survive what they've named Shipwreck Island and become a family  this vacation just might not be a total disaster! Shipwreck Island is a wonderful book that middle school and upper elementary will love! It has suspense, action, and drama. This book is for boys and girls and might just hook that reluctant reader!

[gidgetgrlsreading-blog]

Running Out of Night

by Sharon Lovejoy Journey of an abused twelve-year-old white girl and an escaped slave girl who run away together and form a bond of friendship while seeking freedom. When I first got this book from Random House I wasn't to sure about it to be honest. I am not a Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer fan because of the written dialect. It trips me up and I want to change it in my head. However I'm always one who will read a new book, especially a surprise book mail book! :)  Plus I love her garden books so I was very interested to read her children's lit book. Running Out of Night was wonderful! LOVED it, and the way Sharon Lovejoy writes the dialect flowed and didn't bother me at all! Running Out of Night is a great historical fiction book that is perfect for upper elementary ( 4th grade, 3rd grade strong readers) to middle school ( I would even say all the way to 8th grade). It is an emotional book with some touchy subjects so it might be a bit upsetting or not suited for tender hearted kids. Sharon does a wonderful job at writing about a very sad time in history. One I wish would have never happened. Running Out of Night grabbed me on the first page and held me captive till I finished it. Her writing style really has you envisioning all the world around these 2 girls on the journey to escape to freedom. They are on the run to escape slavery and abuse that both girls have experienced on a day to day basis from family members for one girl (no name girl) and slave owners for another girl (Zenobia). Neither one of them has had a life really, or a true friend that they can lean on and count on. All that changes and just when they need each other the most. This book is about friendship between Zenobia the slave girl and no name girl. Zenobia names no name girl Lark and they become each others rock and protectors. Everyone needs that friend they can count on to have each others back. Especially during tough times, when you feel so alone and like no one is there for you.  You will be rooting for Lark and Zenobia and wanting to take peeks ahead to make sure everything is going alright with these two very brave girls, But don't peek! :) I loved this book and would suggest it to anyone who has a child who loves historical fiction, even an adult would love this book! I hope this becomes a best seller and classic that is read over and over throughout the years. Come to think of it I know this will become a best seller and classic that is read over and over in homes and schools! thank you so very much Random House for sending me a copy! I am so happy to have this one on my bookshelf! I know it will be on my go to book list for gifts this coming year! While I received the book for free it in no way influenced my review all thoughts and opinions are my own.