A Day in the Life: Elementary Community at Forbes Academy

The Elementary years are a beautiful season of growth.

Children begin asking deeper questions. They seek independence, connection, purpose, and a greater understanding of the world around them.

At Forbes Academy, our Elementary program is thoughtfully designed to honor this stage of development through authentic Montessori education, meaningful community experiences, creative self-expression, and real-world exploration.

This is education as an aid to life.

☀️ Morning Arrival & Community Connection

As students arrive each morning, the classroom settles into a calm but energized rhythm.

Children greet friends, unpack their belongings independently, and begin preparing for the day ahead. Some students may immediately continue work from the previous day, while others gather for conversation, planning, or collaborative project discussions.

In a Montessori Elementary environment, the classroom belongs to the children. There is movement, communication, responsibility, and purpose woven naturally throughout the morning.

The day begins with ownership.

Time	What’s Happening	Why It Matters
8:00–8:15 AM	Arrival & Community Connection	Students settle into the classroom, greet peers, organize belongings independently, and prepare for the day ahead. This creates ownership, responsibility, and a calm start to the morning.
8:15 AM	Uninterrupted Montessori Work Cycle Begins	Students engage in individualized lessons, collaborative projects, research, math work, writing, science exploration, and cultural studies. The long work cycle supports concentration, independence, time management, and deep learning.
10:30 AM (woven throughout the morning)	Small Group Lessons & Individual Guidance	Guides provide individualized lessons and support based on each child’s developmental needs and readiness. This allows learning to remain personalized and meaningful.
12:00 PM (integrated into project work & woven throughout the day)	Spanish Bilingualism Experiences	Students build language skills through conversation, cultural exploration, vocabulary work, collaborative activities, and integrated classroom experiences that foster global awareness and communication confidence.
12:00–12:55 PM	Lunch & Social Connection	Students gather together to share meals, conversation, responsibility, and community. Elementary students continue developing independence, Grace & Courtesy, and social confidence during this time.
12:55–1:30 PM	Outdoor Time & Movement	Children reconnect with nature, movement, exploration, and peer interaction. Outdoor experiences support regulation, creativity, collaboration, and overall well-being.
1:30 PM (woven throughout the day)	Flex Space Exploration: Makers, Media & Discovery	Students may engage in hands-on innovation projects, media creation, collaborative builds, creative technology experiences, presentations, or interdisciplinary exploration within our dynamic Flex Space.
2:00 PM (woven throughout the day)	Fine Arts, Creative Expression & Integrated Projects	Students explore creativity through visual arts, storytelling, music, design, multimedia projects, and collaborative expression. Creativity is woven into the learning experience rather than treated as a separate subject.
2:45–3:00 PM	Reflection, Classroom Responsibilities & Dismissal	Students reflect on their work, prepare the environment for the next day, reconnect as a classroom community, and end the day with a sense of accomplishment, responsibility, and belonging.

📚 The Work Cycle: Deep Learning & Independence

Throughout the day, students engage in individualized and collaborative work across subjects such as:

• Mathematics

• Language

• Cultural studies

• Science

• Geography

• Research

• Writing

• Practical life applications

The Elementary classroom is intentionally active.

One student may be working through advanced math materials while another researches ecosystems, practices Spanish vocabulary, writes creatively, or collaborates on a project with peers.

Our guides serve as observers, mentors, and facilitators, carefully supporting each child’s academic and personal growth.

🌎 Spanish Bilingualism & Global Perspective

Language and culture are woven naturally into the life of the classroom.

At Forbes Academy, Spanish bilingualism is approached through conversation, exploration, cultural experiences, and integrated learning opportunities that help children develop confidence and connection.

Elementary students continue building language skills while also developing:

• Cultural awareness

• Communication confidence

• Cognitive flexibility

• Global perspective

  
  

We believe children should grow up understanding not only their own community, but the larger world around them.

💻 Technology Learning - The Montessori Way

Technology at Forbes Academy is intentional, balanced, and rooted in Montessori philosophy.

“Creative technology invites children to become makers, inventors, storytellers, and problem-solvers - not passive consumers.”  — Montessori in the Digital Age

We recognize that children are growing up in a rapidly changing world that requires communication skills, digital literacy, creativity, adaptability, and confidence.

At Forbes Academy, Montessori is not frozen in time.

It is living, evolving, and intentionally connected to the world our children are preparing to lead.

Throughout the week, students may explore:

• Digital citizenship

• Keyboarding & computer literacy

• Research skills

• Robotics & coding logic

• Podcasting & media creation

• Creative technology projects

• Responsible internet practices

  
  

Technology is used to expand hands-on learning.

We believe children should learn how to thoughtfully navigate the digital world while remaining deeply connected to real experiences, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.

This is Montessori education adapted thoughtfully for our time and place, honoring both the child and the world they are growing into.

🎨 Creativity & Self-Expression

The Elementary years are a powerful time for self-expression. Throughout the day, students engage in opportunities for creativity through:

• Fine arts

• Music

• Storytelling

• Design projects

• Multimedia exploration

• Collaborative creative work

  
  

At Forbes Academy, the arts are part of how children communicate ideas, process emotions, and develop confidence in their own voice.

Some children express themselves through words. Others through movement, music, design, or visual art.

All of it matters here.

🌿 The Flex Space: Makers, Media & Discovery

One of the most unique features of Forbes Academy is our Flex Space! Used as an extension of the classroom designed for exploration, collaboration, innovation, and hands-on discovery.

This dynamic environment includes:

• Makers areas

• Media & discovery zones

• Collaborative building projects

• Creative technology stations

• Student presentations

• Innovation-based learning experiences

  
  

The Flex Space allows children to move beyond traditional classroom walls and into interdisciplinary experiences that connect learning to real life.

It is a space where curiosity is encouraged, whether a child decides to create an animation to accompany their book report or takes a deeper dive into the biology of an ant.

Here, children are creating, building, questioning, collaborating, and discovering.

🤝 Inclusion, Specialists & Community Partnership

At Forbes Academy, inclusion is part of our foundation.

We believe children thrive when educators, families, specialists, and community supports work together openly and collaboratively.

Communication with parents is deeply valued within our Elementary program, and we welcome partnership with specialists and support professionals when appropriate to help children feel understood, supported, and successful.

Every child deserves an environment where they can:

• Feel safe being themselves

• Learn in ways that honor their needs

• Build confidence

• Develop independence

• Experience belonging

  
  

Community matters deeply to us, and our classrooms are built on relationships, empathy, and mutual respect.

“The child of this age is a keen observer and has a vivid imagination. He no longer merely asks what things are, but why they are.”  — Dr. Maria Montessori

🌅 Ending the Day with Reflection & Connection

As the school day winds down, students reflect on their work, reconnect with classmates, tidy their environments, and prepare for the next day.

There is pride in the classroom.

Pride in their independence. Pride in their work. Pride in being trusted contributors within their community.

At Forbes Academy, our Elementary program is designed to nurture capable students, compassionate humans, creative thinkers, confident communicators, and curious explorers.

Because education should do more than prepare children for the next grade level.

It should prepare them for life. 💜

💡 Parent Tip: Supporting Independence at Home

One of the most meaningful ways to support your 6-12yr old child is by allowing them opportunities to practice real independence in everyday life.

At this stage, children are naturally developing confidence, responsibility, decision-making skills, and a strong sense of identity. Small moments at home can have a powerful impact.

You can encourage independence by:

• Allowing your child to pack their own backpack or lunch

• Creating routines they can manage independently

• Encouraging problem-solving before stepping in immediately

• Giving opportunities for responsibility within the home

• Listening to their ideas and perspectives

• Making space for creativity, curiosity, and exploration

  
  

Children are capable of so much more than we sometimes realize. 🦅

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If you’re exploring schools for your 6-12 year old, we would love to show you what a Montessori Elementary environment truly feels like.

💜 Pre-enrollment is open. Connect with us at info@forbes.academy