Elementary
We believe that childhood is a series of adventures! Whether these experiences are visual, audible, intentional, or spontaneous, they all involve learning. At MOT, we get to know every child and create these learning opportunities that help each student grow and learn by meeting them at their level and understanding their interests and what motivates them.
The elementary school curriculum takes children's natural curiosity and begins to incorporate academic content. Sequenced from grade to grade, our content looks to extend curricular connections across subject areas using the natural overlap of skills, content, or concepts.
Students have questions to answer, problems to solve, creations to build, and stories to tell. By building foundations in phonics and advancing to novel studies through Readers Workshop in ELA, as well as aligning mathematical concepts such as algebraic thinking and reasoning through number talks, students gain confidence as learners. By progressively developing skills, as well as creative and critical thinking, we strive to help them become lifelong learners!
From Kindergarten to third grade, students learn in self-contained classrooms. In fourth and fifth grade, students will move among grade-level classes and engage in learning opportunities with teachers who are specialized in their content areas of language arts, math, science and social studies. Spanish, art, music, physical education, technology, and wellness classes are also taught by specialist teachers. Core Curriculum and Next Gen Science Standards provide the framework for instructional decisions.
Beyond curriculum content, teachers help students develop character skills needed to become good citizens. During their K-12 experience, students will learn and develop skills including collaboration, communication, creativity, inclusion, and leadership. As Kindergartners, our youngest students learn guided responsibility and what it means to be a part of a community. By fifth grade, students are becoming role models and showing they are ready for the responsibility that comes with making independent choices.