Academics – Lake Superior Academy

Lake Superior Academy uses the proven effectiveness of the Montessori educational model to teach a broad spectrum of students; successfully nurturing each child on their journey towards knowledge.

Teachers “follow the child”, and through the use of the Montessori method and materials, find ways to best encourage each student’s learning style and individual talents. Multi-age classrooms are used to stimulate personal growth without stigma, and teachers truly get to know and are able to help their students, staying with them for three-year periods. Students work within a cooperative environment of support with their peers, teachers, and parents. The result is a graduate who has learned how to truly respect others and to be respected, who has become a confident learner, and who has amassed a body of knowledge that can lead and support the graduate for the rest of his/her life.

Curriculum

Through the Montessori curriculum, all children at Lake Superior Academy receive a top of the line education which helps them excel in their future educational endeavors, as well as in their adult lives. Take a look at each grade level to see what Montessori children learn in each age grouping.

Primary Grades 1-5

Primary

The Kindergarten program is tuition-free and full day only for students who will turn 5 years old by December 1 of the current school year.

In the LSA Preprimary program, children ages 5-6 enjoy exploring in beautifully prepared Montessori environments. Our classes are designed to offer individualized learning and provide the necessary Montessori materials to help each student develop skills essential for this age group. Each classroom offers the children experiences in the practical life, sensorial, language, math and cultural (geography, history, science, music and art) areas. The materials in these curriculum areas are self-correcting. This enables each child to gain greater confidence and perfection through his choice and repetition. Children gain a sense of independence as they take an active role in the Montessori environment. Below is a list of skills students in the Preprimary program work towards developing.

Montessori Curricula Areas

Practical Life – Develops:

• Independence
• Coordination
• Fine motor development
• Sense of order
• Concentration

Language Arts – Develops:

• Letter sounds
• Reading
• Handwriting
• Grammar
• Vocabulary

Math – Develops:

• Number concepts
• Operations
• Time and money
• Measuring

Sensorial – Develops:

• Differentiate each of the five senses
• Improve each of the five senses
• Prepare for language and math

Additional Studies:

• Geography
• History
• Science
• Art
• Music

Grades 1-5

Lower Elementary

The lower elementary program at Lake Superior Academy allows students to expand their knowledge in a wide range of academic subjects – building on the skills and social abilities that they developed in Kindergarten. Academic subjects are integrated into a program designed to allow children to learn at their own pace.

Freedom of movement, open work areas and uninterrupted blocks of time for individual and group projects help to support the 6-9 year old's drive toward autonomy. Students are guided through a rich and challenging curriculum as they continue to work both individually, and in small groups. The program permits a variety of approaches using colorful manipulatives that make sense of abstract principles. The subject matter includes: math, reading, grammar, sentence analysis, penmanship, spelling, creative writing, geography, history, general science, botany, zoology, and art.