Primary Program

An academic program for students 3-6 years old.

The Primary program is truly a gift to your child. Designed for children between the ages of 3 to 6 years, it is an opportunity to nurture his individual development within the context of a group setting. The result? Self-confidence, joy and a lifelong love-for-learning.

Child Centered

(not teacher centered)

Unlike conventional classrooms, where all children are expected to pay close attention to the teacher, our program does the opposite – the teacher is trained to closely observe your child’s interests, tendencies and needs. You won’t see the teacher standing at the front of the classroom at a chalkboard, but rather down at your child’s level, engaged with her or a small group.

A Mixed-Age Classroom

Because the curriculum is individualized, your child can work at his or her own pace while participating in a mixed age classroom community. Your younger child learns by observing the behavior and activities of the older children. Your older child gains self-confidence, leadership skills and responsibility by setting an example for her younger friends.

The Gift of Choice

Your child will be introduced to a broad range of concepts and activities in individual and small group lessons. The real learning, however, occurs through independent activity by choosing to explore it, repeat it and perfect it.

Hands-On Materials

The scientifically designed Montessori materials help your child learn through hands-on use and exploration. Through continued use, he develops as a concrete understanding of abstract concepts, such as mathematics, providing a solid foundation for learning into the future.

Group Activities and Play

While most of the day is spent in self-directed work, there are also times for group activity and play. The directress (teacher) may gather a group for songs or to tell stories about a cultural, scientific or historical theme of interest. Ample time is also given to run, dig, explore and play with friends outdoors.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Instead of a top down curriculum based upon age, the teacher is trained to respect your child’s unique potential and connects him with the lesson best suited at that precise moment of development. Your child will be challenged according to her ability, not to a generic standard.

Kindergarten Included

Montessori is a continuum of education that allows your child to build upon experiences each year. Your child will stay in the Primary classroom for 3 years, including the traditional “kindergarten year” – when the seeds of learning come to fruition. Reading and writing come to life from sounds and symbols. She is introduced to numbers and the decimal system. She learns about geometric figures and the political countries of our world. She leaves the program with a strong set of academic skills; but, far more importantly, with the attitude that learning is fun, exciting and boundless. At this point, she is ready to move up to the Elementary program, for children from the ages of 6 to 12.

Daily Routine

Children who join the Montessori program become a strong part of a young community and are actively sought out and depended upon by their peers.  For this reason we commit our program to a five day week of either half-day, extended day or all day hours.

Our morning routine begins with the uninterrupted, three-hour work cycle.  At this time, our half-day friends dismiss for recess while our extended and all-day friends prepare for lunch and recess. Children prepare the classroom for dining.  Everyday children take turns preparing tables so that we eat together as a community; they learn to set a table: placemat, cloth napkin, glass plate, a drinking glass and silverware; and they clean-up the classroom in order to prepare for the afternoon work cycle.

After lunch, we spend time outdoors for recess.  We typically join our whole school community for a recess of 45 minutes.

Children are invited to the afternoon work cycle when they are no longer napping.  (Children who nap will have a quiet place to rest during the afternoon work cycle.)  This extension in their day allows time for more concentrated work and further development with longer and more involved academic materials.  It is strongly recommended that children join the Extended Day program by the time they are 4 ½ years old.