Primary Program

2 year olds – 6 year olds

CLASSROOM

Our spacious Primary Classroom offers plenty of space for free movement, quiet work and reflection, reading, art and snack.

The classroom offers a calm atmosphere, order and joy. The children ages 2-6 learn together in the same setting guided by the teacher and by the younger observing older students. They acquire inner discipline and concentration by learning to work at a task from the beginning to the end. In the Montessori classroom, each child is allowed to learn at his own pace.

CURRICULUM

Practical Life: Designed to allow children to practice everyday activities and life skills like dusting, mopping, pouring. Each activity in this area focuses on increasing the child’s order, independence, concentration and coordination.

Sensorial: These materials are designed to refine the five senses – tactile, visual, auditory, olfactory, and gustatory. Here the children interact with textures, sound, weight, color, smell, and more. These experiences help them develop the concept of categorizing, sorting and classifying of materials by different characteristics like largest to smallest and thickest to thinnest.

Language: First emphasizes the development of spoken language and vocabulary through stories and poems, naming objects and classroom materials. Then comes early preparation for reading and writing with activities that develop fine motor control including left to right activities. Direct preparation for reading and writing begins with tracing of sandpaper letters and learning the alphabet phonetically. Writing comes with the manipulation of the movable alphabet to form short written words. This comes before the ability to read followed by practicing numerous fine motor activities and finally writing with a pencil.
The language area progresses on to reading folders and sentence building and develops the child’s writing through metal insets.

Math: Starts with the child building a strong foundation of numbers using manipulative materials like sandpaper numbers, red and blue rods, hundred board and more. This gives them a clear understanding of math in a concrete format so they can move onto abstract concepts. Linear counting, decimal system, addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division are also introduced when the child shows signs of readiness.

Geography: Introduces the concept of land, air and water. The globe of the world is introduced in two forms, one as land, air and water, the other more specific to continents and bodies of water. There is a detailed puzzle maps of every continent. When a continent is introduced, countries within the continent are discussed along with animals, food and clothing.

Science: Is a very broad area of study. It is an area that can be guided by the interest of the children. The common areas of study are plant/animal, vertebrate/invertebrate, study of life cycles of plants and animals, including dinosaurs, mammals and reptiles. Physical Science is also incorporated into the science curriculum.

Art: Includes the study of art appreciation, studying the life and work of various artists. An important part of the art area is skill development, tracing, cutting, lacing, and more. Once children master skills they can move onto more complex works of art. Children use real art materials like watercolors and oil pastels to develop an appreciation of art at a young age.

Music: Is heard daily throughout the school. Classes share music together at their daily circle time, an important part of the day for community building. Music is incorporated through song, dance and introductions to different instruments. In addition, each class enjoys a weekly music class with a certified music instructor.

PLAYGROUND

Our Primary Students have access to a beautiful age appropriate playground.
When rain, snow or cold prevents our students from playing outside, Primary students enjoy gross motor time in our spacious classroom.