The Primary Program or Children’s House
Our Primary classes are for 3 – 6 year-olds. A balance of genders and ages encourages a vibrant community of children, with peer-tutoring, multi-age friendships, and a close bond between each teacher and child. Our highly trained, dedicated and experienced teachers have multiple college degrees, as well as full certification from the Association Montessori International (AMI). Two sessions of outdoor playtime, nature study, singing, read-aloud and discussion times, movement games, and lunch time are a part of every day. A nutritious snack is provided every morning.
Encouraging a Life-long Love of Learning
Each spacious primary classroom contains a carefully selected array of learning activities that have been tested and proven in Montessori schools around the world for over 100 years. Through individual lessons that inspire and inform, our teachers encourage the child’s inborn drive to learn. After each initial lesson, the child is free to explore with that material; repeating and experimenting until they reach a point of joyful mastery. When young children are fully engaged in self-motivated learning, their best traits can flourish; perseverance, concentration, imagination, problem-solving, leadership, self-esteem, and respect become fully developed.
Sensory Development and Practical Life
The younger children devote much of their time to the activities that refine their senses; a powerful pathway to learning. Finding tiny differences in shape, dimension, texture, hue, musical pitch, etc. prepares the child’s mind for reading, writing and math. These materials awaken the artistic sense as well. The youngest children also develop their concentration and motor skills through real and purposeful activities of Practical Life. They may enjoy table-scrubbing, silver polishing, food preparation and flower arranging. They may also learn to pour and spoon, zip and button, buckle, and tie bows. Through caring for themselves and their classroom community, the children learn an orderly, respectful and independent approach to all future endeavors at school.
Encouraging a Life-long Love of Learning
Each spacious primary classroom contains a carefully selected array of learning activities that have been tested and proven in Montessori schools around the world for over 100 years. Through individual lessons that inspire and inform, our teachers encourage the child’s inborn drive to learn. After each initial lesson, the child is free to explore with that material; repeating and experimenting until they reach a point of joyful mastery. When young children are fully engaged in self-motivated learning, their best traits can flourish; perseverance, concentration, imagination, problem-solving, leadership, self-esteem, and respect become fully developed.
Sensory Development and Practical Life
The younger children devote much of their time to the activities that refine their senses; a powerful pathway to learning. Finding tiny differences in shape, dimension, texture, hue, musical pitch, etc. prepares the child’s mind for reading, writing and math. These materials awaken the artistic sense as well. The youngest children also develop their concentration and motor skills through real and purposeful activities of Practical Life. They may enjoy table-scrubbing, silver polishing, food preparation and flower arranging. They may also learn to pour and spoon, zip and button, buckle, and tie bows. Through caring for themselves and their classroom community, the children learn an orderly, respectful and independent approach to all future endeavors at school.
Language and Math:
Authentic Montessori schools often produce an astounding number of “early” readers and writers. This is accomplished by the inner drive of the children themselves. Beginning at age three, the children are guided to master each of the necessary components of reading and writing, accomplished through little games and fun activities. Many Montessori children will tell you “I taught myself how to read and write!” In addition to fluent reading when they are developmentally ready, children learn grammar games, creative story writing, and the joys of researching and writing about a favorite topic. In Math, they become proficient with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. They may also have memorized many of the essential addition, subtraction and multiplication facts; all through practice with a series of fascinating materials and games.
Arts, Science and Culture:
Our classrooms encourage creativity and artistic expression at all times. Easel painting, collage, clay, water play, paper and scissors projects, and holiday and seasonal crafts are always available. In addition, the children learn simple weaving and sewing projects. Baking and cooking enhance our study of cultures and holidays. There are puzzle maps of six continents and the USA, complete with labels for every country and state. Children pursue nature study in botany and zoology – both with our naturalist, and with the wide array of materials in the classrooms. Cultural presentations by parents are welcomed and encouraged. Daily and weekly activities in music and movement are scheduled to enhance the children’s music appreciation activities and physical development. We have an annual all-school Sing Along for parents and children in December.
Authentic Montessori schools often produce an astounding number of “early” readers and writers. This is accomplished by the inner drive of the children themselves. Beginning at age three, the children are guided to master each of the necessary components of reading and writing, accomplished through little games and fun activities. Many Montessori children will tell you “I taught myself how to read and write!” In addition to fluent reading when they are developmentally ready, children learn grammar games, creative story writing, and the joys of researching and writing about a favorite topic. In Math, they become proficient with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. They may also have memorized many of the essential addition, subtraction and multiplication facts; all through practice with a series of fascinating materials and games.
Arts, Science and Culture:
Our classrooms encourage creativity and artistic expression at all times. Easel painting, collage, clay, water play, paper and scissors projects, and holiday and seasonal crafts are always available. In addition, the children learn simple weaving and sewing projects. Baking and cooking enhance our study of cultures and holidays. There are puzzle maps of six continents and the USA, complete with labels for every country and state. Children pursue nature study in botany and zoology – both with our naturalist, and with the wide array of materials in the classrooms. Cultural presentations by parents are welcomed and encouraged. Daily and weekly activities in music and movement are scheduled to enhance the children’s music appreciation activities and physical development. We have an annual all-school Sing Along for parents and children in December.
