Primary Program
The groundwork for the intrinsic rewards of a Montessori education is laid down at the preschool level. This program is conducted for children aged three to five. Three is the ideal age for starting in a Montessori class.
When one enters a Montessori preschool classroom, one sees children working intently upon a variety of activities. They may be working individually or in small groups or with a lesson from one of the teachers. The areas of work are: reading and language, mathematics, science, geography, art activities, practical life activities such as polishing silver, sewing a button, or spooning beans; and sensorial materials for grading and sorting. Also, at the preschool level, special classes are conducted weekly in music and Spanish.
The goal of the preschool directress is to help each child become "normalized", a Montessori term meaning that an individual actually prefers "work" to play because that is natural for the intellectual young child who wants to learn. The idea of having mixed ages in the classroom is so that younger children might be inspired by seeing what the older children can do, and the older children have their own learning reinforced by helping a younger student. Also, they experience a boost to their character by so doing.
Program Details
A child may attend either a morning session from 9:00 - 11:30 or an afternoon session from 12:30 - 3:00. An older child may attend for the extended day which is from 9:00 until 3:00.
Each session includes time outdoors or in the gym during inclement weather.
Kindergarten Enrichment
We offer a Kindergarten Enrichment program for students who have turned five years of age by September. In this class, which meets for two afternoons each week, the students work together on group projects which enrich their learning primarily in the areas of social science and science.