Our school has been serving families who are passionately committed to giving their children both a world-class education and an education of the heart and mind that will nurture their self-confidence, personal creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit.  We are committed to offering students the most challenging academic program they can handle.  Our goal is to inspire them and sow seeds of knowledge and culture in their imagination that will blossom into kindness, respect, and intellectual inquiry.    At Starmaker, learning is our passion!  If you are one of those special families who believe that an investment in education pays the best dividends, then Starmaker may be the school you have always dreamed of finding for your child. 

Our Elementary program will continue in lockstep with the Montessori philosophy and teaching methods in our school and is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).  In the Elementary class, children continue to discover their world and their potential.  They learn new skills and build on what they have learned in the Primary class. 

Our curriculum reflects a continuing study of how each child lives and learns much more than it is an outline of what they must learn.  How?  Independence, concentration, and purposeful activity are some of the guideposts along this path.  Giving a child freedom to explore, respecting his concentration on whatever he has chosen to work, providing activities that require the use of his mind and his hands at the same time:  all of these are part of the curriculum at every stage.

Our approach to education is based on the fact that both children and adults learn best through experience and the process of independent discovery.  Our curriculum has unusual substance and depth, yet we do not place undue stress on academic competition for grades.  Our students work and learn side-by-side at their own best pace, striving to the highest limits of their ability.   Your child will learn to think, observe, and reflect; not memorize and quickly forget.  Instead of giving him the right answers, we will ask the right questions, and lead him to discover answers for himself.

ELEMENTARY SUBJECT AREAS
Portfolio Assessment:  Each student has a portfolio for each subject area in which he is working.  The student selects from his work folder a piece of work he considers the most appropriate work.  The student and teacher look at the work sample and consider its strengths and weaknesses.  On a separate piece of paper, the student and teacher identify goals on which the student expects to focus for the next period (generally 5-8 days).  By using portfolio assessment, the students have an active part in assessing the knowledge that they are acquiring.  Portfolios are effective assessment tools to ensure the individualization of instruction, which is a hallmark of the methods we use.

MATHMATICS – Sensorial and hands-on techniques are applied to the daily study of mathematics.  This multi-faceted, tangible approach maintains the student’s interests and enthusiasm even as they learn basic concepts of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, algebra, and geometry.

LANGUAGE ARTS – Daily reading is augmented by trips to the nearby library.  Along with dictionary skills, cursive writing and spelling are taught and encouraged.  Reading and writing skills are interwoven throughout the program.

PHYSICAL AND NATURAL SCIENCE – Studies in basic physics, astronomy, botany, chemistry, environmental studies, and zoology are explored through individual projects, aided by monthly field trips and natural observation.

SOCIAL SCIENCES – History, geography, and social studies focus on the students themselves through the study of their personal histories, the history of their town, state, country, continent, and planet.  Our program addresses how the world began and travels through history to what we now call present day in preparation for a global perspective.

EXTRACURICULARS –
Art – The children explore the facets of our imagination through studies and understanding of color, texture, and mood.
Music – This study has a high demand for incorporating culture into our curriculum.  The children demonstrate an understanding of cultural significance as well as voice, sound, rhythm, instrumentals, and solos.
Foreign Language – Students engage in activities focused on a particular geographical location.  They study language, culture, and customs of the chosen group of individuals such as Spanish and/or French.
Physical Education/Health – Our school understands that daily exercise and healthy eating habits are crucial in your child’s development.  Outdoor sports and indoor aerobics will compliment our educational program.
Fieldtrips – Each child will be given the opportunity to explore their environment through educational sites throughout the state of Maryland.  Off-site exploration will enhance what they learned in the classroom.
Technology – Our newly installed technology center encompasses the learning process.  Children interact with a secured world wide web to conduct research, practice mathematic skills, and enhance typing skills.

PARENTAL INVOLVMENT
In the Montessori context, parental involvement is not the same as volunteerism.  Parental involvement means cultivating in the parent an understanding and appreciation of the school’s philosophy towards education.  Simply put, it means parents must make a commitment to extend the Montessori philosophy beyond the classroom into their homes to ensure stability and continuity between home and school. 

An involved parent is one who understands:

This type of parental involvement promotes better and improved classroom environments and successful students.

HOMEWORK CENTER – The homework center is offered for elementary students from 3:30-5:30 p.m. daily as needed.  The room will be staffed with teachers who are able to assist each student with their individual assignments.  Computers as well as a library are on site for students to access as necessary.

SCHEDULE AND STAFF
The Elementary classes meet from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.  We offer a Lower Elementary class, which is for students in first through third grade (ages 6-9).  Our staff is composed of fully qualified and highly motivated teachers.  Our teachers have obtained their Montessori certificates and hold a Bachelors Degree.  All teachers and senior staff members are required to hold a current infant and child CPR and first aid certification.  The average staff to student ratio is 1:15.

ADMISSIONS
No persons shall be denied enrollment in any of the Starmaker Learning Center programs because of race, color, creed or national origin.  Previous Starmaker enrollment is not a prerequisite for entering the Elementary program.  However, current students receive first priority.

You don’t have to be wealthy to attend Starmaker Learning Center.  You just have to be deeply committed to the quality of your child’s education and life!.