Art
All students, K - 8, attend Art classes each week. Two art shows each year showcase the fabulous work of all students. This thorough curriculum is presented in a three-year cycle and explores visual art from every historic period and art forms from around the world.
Music
Students at Montessori Academy experience Music at every level in every program. Formal teaching begins in Primary. Our Music Teacher, Mr. Mark Woodward, visits Primary classrooms to work with students. Level 1-3, the Lower Elementary Students, have general music with singing and have the option to study violin using the Suzuki method, with a certified Suzuki teacher. In the Upper Elementary/Middle School, level 4-8, students have general music and a choice of further studies in choral music, strings, and band with highly qualified specialists.
Band - 4th-8th level students have the opportunity to learn how to play a “band” instrument. These instruments include: flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone, bass guitar, drums and percussion. Students receive specialized instruction on these instruments from a highly qualified teacher during the school day. In addition to 2 full-band rehearsals during the week, students receive two additional small-group rehearsals grouped by age and ability level, for a total of 4 rehearsals per week. The band performs 3 concerts per year: the Winter Revue, Grandparents’ Day, and Spring Concert at the end of April. The band performs a variety of music that is both educational and entertaining. Band students also have the opportunity to participate in individual events such as Solo and Ensemble Festival and Middle Tennessee State Band and Orchestra Honor Band auditions.
Physical Education
Level 1 - 8 Students attend Physical Education classes three times each week. Kindergarten students attend a physical education class one time per week. Based on the TN State curriculum, Physical Education at Montessori Academy offers students a broad variety of experiences. Throughout the school year students play traditional PE games that teach spatial awareness, cooperation, and teamwork within a group dynamic. Children also work individually and in small groups while doing activities that develop their gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and balance. During the year several sports are introduced: soccer, football, basketball, baseball, tennis, hockey, golf, and track and field and a few unconventional ones, ultimate Frisbee, team handball, and cricket. Under the guidance of Coach Vallone students are encouraged to participate to the best of their abilities, respect each other, have fun, and burn a lot of energy!
Special Curriculum
Art, General Music, Band, Strings, Vocal Music, Physical Education, and Spanish are important components of the well-rounded Montessori Academy standard curriculum.
Spanish
Spanish class is offered two days per week for students in the Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, and Middle School. The Spanish curriculum at Montessori Academy is based around the approaches of TCI (Total Comprehensible Input) and TPRS® (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling). Through these approaches, students learn to listen and respond in Spanish from Day 1. Students play games, sing songs, and read, but the majority of the class is based around stories that the students create alongside the teacher. Upon graduating, 8th grade students have the opportunity to transfer their Spanish 1 credit to high school.