Shady Oaks Montessori

Elementary : Learning How to Think

6 - 12 Years Old

“Our aim is not merely to make the child understand, and still less to force him to memorize, but to touch his imagination as to enthuse him to his innermost core.” – Dr. Maria Montessori

“Shady Oaks has blown our minds. Our girls are THRIVING. Their creativity, love of learning, belief in themselves, and interest and confidence in researching and problem-solving is off the charts. They are able to learn at their own pace, as well as teach others, and there’s no cap on their exploration and intermingling of subjects. We’re also recognizing that the shared values of this Montessori community are really preserving their innocence and, in a way, extending their childhood.”
– B.C. (Parent of an 8 and 10 year old)

Dr. Maria Montessori observed that elementary children, ages 6-12, are beginning to develop a reasoning mind and an imagination. Dr. Montessori took these characteristics along with other characteristics of this age into consideration when creating the education program for elementary children.

The seeds from their years in our Montessori Children’s House begin to sprout. These elementary children think for themselves and direct their own learning, extending themselves through challenging work choices. With their reasoning mind and imagination, they are asking the how and why questions. Therefore, our education program is to give them the universe which means we want them to explore outside the classroom to find the answers to their questions.

The elementary curriculum is academically comprehensive and sequential while equally valuing the social/emotional development of the growing child.   Promoting multi-age learning and leadership, there are two classes in the elementary program; Lower Elementary (ages 6-9) and Upper Elementary (ages 9-12).

The Montessori Elementary program gives children the universe through:

  • The five Great Stories created by Dr. Montessori
  • 3 hour work cycles of uninterrupted time
  • Freedom to explore their own questions to the extent of their interest
  • “Going Outs” (child led excursions outside the class) for Upper Elementary Students
  • Field trips relevant to the curriculum
  • Guidance in their exploration the interconnectedness between their environment, humanity and the future

Highlights in our Shady Oaks Elementary Program:

  • A family camping to start the year
  • Research presentations from self-directed study
  • Cursive
  • Culinary arts-children help prepare Friday lunch and snacks, child led cafe and fundraising lunches
  • Music Program
  • Spanish Program
  • Lower Elementary weekly PE and field trips.
  • Upper Elementary overnight field trips
  • Playground: Climbing apparatus and other obstacles to develop awareness of body, strength and imagination for pure fun.
  • Shasta College Chemistry Lab
  • Whiskeytown Enviromental School
  • Bike Saftey Class with Redding Police Department

Highlights in our Shady Oaks Elementary Program:

  • A family ranch camp at Bar 717 Children’s Ranch to start the year
  • Cultural gatherings and weekly community lunch
  • Research presentations from self-directed study
  • Ink calligraphy and cursive
  • Handicrafts such as knitting, crochet, sewing, etc.
  • Culinary arts – children help prepare community lunch with a visit to the store and using herbs and vegetables from our garden, child led café and fundraising lunches
  • Specialist Music
  • Integrated Spanish
  • Lower Elementary weekly PE and nature walks at the park
  • Upper Elementary overnight ranch visits to Bar 717 Children’s Ranch
    • Includes ranch work, hiking, nature lessons, and focused studies in areas such as botany, zoology, astronomy and leadership skills
  • The ‘FORT’ area – a ‘playground’ where wood and other objects from nature are repurposed and bartered as stores, stables, stages, and even obstacle courses are created – the imagination of the children leading them on!
  • Cross country running team
  • Arts Show

 

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Mojave Rose, Lower Elementary Guide

Mojave loves education, her family, and the outdoors. Mojave has been a Montessori guide in Lower Elementary since 2015. She received her AMI Elementary Diploma from Montessori Northwest in 2017, as well as her masters in education from Whitworth University. Mojave also has her California State Teaching Credential, and minored in child development during her undergraduate studies. Mojave’s hobbies include traveling, hiking, and spending time with family.

Why Montessori? “During all of my studies in education, research kept coming back to ‘student centered learning’. In Montessori we really are student centered, it is not just a catch phrase. The child learns to learn, not to memorize, and they find joy in the process.  Children become empowered, self-directed and motivated. In Montessori we educate the whole child.”

Miss Rose is assisted in Lower Elementary by Hannah Moreno.

Julie Helart, Lower Elementary Guide

Julie has been teaching in a Montessori setting for 30 years. She started her teaching career in Colorado. This is where she received her primary Montessori training, and opened her first Montessori School. She then moved into the elementary Montessori program training through the Montessori Education Center of the Rockies in Boulder Colorado. During that time Julie received her Bachelor’s from Colorado Christian University. She then moved to Texas where she opened and ran a high school, while receiving her training from the Houston Montessori Center. In 2020, Julie and her husband Brian relocated to Redding, California to be with one of her sons, daughter in law and grandchildren.

Why Montessori? One of my favorite quotes by Maria Montessori is: “As we observe children, we see the vitality of their spirit, the maximum effort put forth in all they do, the intuition, attention and focus they bring to all life’s events, and the sheer joy they experience in living.” Children are my life and giving them the opportunity to enjoy learning is my calling.

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Amy Sholdt, Upper Elementary Guide

Amy grew up in a military family and moved around living in Colorado, Virginia, Florida and even Ethiopia. After getting her Masters in Teaching, she worked in the public education system for 23 years. During those 23 years she taught in Georgia, Colorado and Malaysia, teaching Kindergarten, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, and as the elementary and the middle/high school librarian. Amy received her AMI Elementary Diploma from the Montessori Institute of Atlanta in 2019. During this training, she experienced many mind transforming revelations about this educational approach. “If only I had found this years ago!”

Why Montessori? “Montessori was something I knew nothing about, even when I said yes to first working as an assistant at Shady Oaks. As I went through training and began working with the kids at school, I fell in love with the approach. Not just because it resonated in me with how children at this age learned but also due to the joy and peace I see in the children each day.”

N Zone Sports

N Zone Sports is a youth sports program that is conducted through N Zone Sports and is committed to introducing and developing a passion for sports for younger children ages 2-10.

Our organized programs offer exciting, fun, age specific instruction and coaching. Whether we play flag football, soccer, basketball or t-ball, our excellent coaches will ensure the ultimate youth experience for all children involved. Our goal is to provide an encouraging, fun, high-energy and educational environment for children to learn a sport and to develop their skills and passion for the game. Moreover, we love teaching children responsible competition and values in sports like teamwork, leadership, effort and sportsmanship

Our Redding team consists of very experienced sports coaches with a distinct heart for kids. Coach Ian, Coach Heather, Coach Brian and Coach Chris love Shady Oaks Montessori as one of our most favorite groups. It is a wonderful and powerful school, providing an ideal setting for our sport programs and pouring into the kids.

Elementary Program Hours:

Monday – Friday 7:45am – 3:00pm

Schedule an Observation Today!

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