In the elementary classroom at MDS, academic subjects are not an objective, but rather the vehicle for a journey. Through varied subject matter such as math, geometry, language, geography, culture, physical science and biology, our students embark on a rich exploration of the world around them.

The MDS curriculum at the elementary level focuses on aiding the child with discovery of the interrelation and interdependence of all things, and their own role in the world. At this age, students are seeking a way to make sense of the world around them, and to understand how it developed as it is today. It is an understanding of the function of each academic subject in the “real world” that motivates the student to learn. Each child will learn much more than facts and functions—they will build an understanding and context of the unique academic subjects and find in them purpose and value. By helping each child discover the “why” behind academics, we enable them to develop an inner discipline and motivation for mastery.

What type of student succeeds in our environment? The short answer is all types of student. In our environment, information is presented through group and individual instruction. These lessons are presented to address all three types of learner (auditory, who learns by listening, visual, who learns by seeing and kinesthetic, who learns through movement). By presenting new information in all three ways, the brain can assemble auditory, visual and muscle memory to synthesize a broad and deep understanding of process and information.