A day in the Elementary classroom

from 6 to 12 years old

Morning rituals

Hearing “Good morning, how are you?” is how every Hopscotch student is welcomed to school each day. All staff take a genuine interest in each student and their families. Once you enter our school, you become part of the Hopscotch Community.

After the morning greeting, students head into the school to put their belongings away and join their friends in the classroom. The day starts with mindfulness exercises to prepare children’s mind and body for the upcoming day of learning and discovery.

Every classroom in our elementary school is full of unknown wonders, ideas to test, and stories to learn and share. Every day has the potential to unlock some new knowledge and introduce new skills a student will rely on for the rest of their life. Hopscotch elementary students attend lessons on a wide variety of curricular areas in the morning.

Students also have individual coaching meetings with their teachers to construct a plan for the upcoming week that will center around the interest and key academic areas the student is interested in. These meetings also allow the teacher to check-in and discuss the child's overall wellbeing. All work done by students is collected in an individual portfolio.

The work cycle

The feeling of belonging is a fundamental part of every student’s success and wellbeing. Every lesson has an element encouraging connection between students, whether working on projects or participating in group discussions. The Montessori classroom gives students many different working environments - working independently, collaborate in small groups, and work together as a classroom. At times the process can be very hands-on, requiring communication and movement, and other times the work requires staying quiet, being fully focused, and attentive. Once students receive their plan for the day, they are given the freedom to organize their day to meet personal goals.

Once students have their plan they manage, they are given the freedom to organize their day around their goals. For example, the teacher has taught Introduction to Golden Beads for Mathematics, Introduction to Noun for Language, and Alphabetical Order for Word Study. With the teacher's help and depending on ability, the student will record follow-up work given by the teacher in their work plans. The student's choice will include which work he/she would like to complete or do for the day and choose the follow-up activity given by the teacher.

For example, there can be lessons in Mathematics, Parts of Speech, and Cultural Math on Mondays. The child sees the day's schedule to manage his/her time before lessons are presented. During this time, children can also take "breaks" by having a snack, taking quiet breaks to re-energize and refocus their minds through silent reading, mindfulness meditation, origami, or just sitting quietly and comfortably for a mental break.

The city is our classroom

Each student is required to manage their academic responsibilities alongside taking an active role in the classroom. Students rotate between various classroom tasks to ensure that all areas of the room are clean, budgeting classroom spending, to teach children the significance of responsibility.

Hopscotch students use New York City as an extension of their classroom experience. Our location and proximity to the cultural center enrich and inspire our teaching methods. Teachers facilitate the discussion with consideration to the various ideas and needs of each student of the class. Each Hopscotch Montessori member works together to build this amazingly supportive community that supports and inspires every child.

Health and wellness

Health and wellness are important elements in the everyday routine of Hopscotch Montessori. Our elementary students set the table to make every meal feel like one at home with family and friends, allowing for bonding and forming connections. Children bring food from home or choose to receive fresh and healthy food delivered to school daily. The menu incorporates a wide variety of meals combining many international cuisines. Each meal includes a balance of nutrients, vegetables, healthy grains, and it also tastes delicious!

It is no secret that children learn best when given plenty of time to have fun outside. Nearby parks provide our students with spaces for outdoor activity. Students will use local playgrounds to play, run, jump, climb and enjoy themselves with their friends. A variety of structured activities targeted toward physical health and team building are also part of our schedule.

Literacy block

A wide range of books is available for elementary school students to pursue their interests throughout the day. After returning from their outdoor activities, a specific time is designated for students to choose a book of their liking, get comfortable and read. Independent reading is based on the students reading level and is student-led. Our extensive library can serve a reader of any preference, supporting all reading levels and providing various literary genres, ranging from fiction, non-fiction to sports, adventure, graphic novels, and more.

Art

Students attend art classes twice a week. They are given an opportunity to express themselves through various art mediums and to study different art areas. The city has many resources to enrich creativity and build knowledge of art in its various forms in every child.

Language

As an international school with a global community, we recognize the importance of children being exposed to different languages and cultures. Our students spend two days a week interacting with our Mandarin teacher. Lessons are structured to build a basic knowledge of the language and expose students to Chinese writing. Through games, songs, and many other interactive activities, our students build familiarity with the Chinese language.

Academy of the arts

Hopscotch students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of enriching activities that meet the needs for creativity, sports, and thirst for dun in our students. Any child will be able to find something of their interest. Students can participate in movement art classes, such as dance and theater, to learn and perform dance choreography from different regions around the world. These activities allow them to become more familiar with musical and dance cultures around the world. In theatre, children make stories come to life! At times, participants will revisit classic stories, breathing new life into them by set design, costume manufacturing, and performance for the school community. Students become deeply engaged in the creative process and come out of this experience being more confident, artistic, and imaginative.

In partnership with Juventus Soccer Club, Hopscotch Montessori has created an afternoon soccer program aligned with Montessori principles. Students have the opportunity to learn about teamwork, engage in physical activity and improve their athletic skills. This activity provides health benefits and allows for personal growth by discovering the importance of collaboration to reach a common goal.

Sports

The end of the day

At the end of the day, students begin to wind down. They prepare the classroom for the next day, talk with friends, make plans for the evening or finish up any last minute tasks. Teachers lead a short community gathering to say goodbye or to dismiss students to their enrichment classes.