PRIMARY / KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM
Our Montessori Primary environment (3-6 yr. olds) supports the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development of the child. The teacher thoughtfully prepares the classroom environment to invite curiosity and stimulate learning. By making independent choices, the child develops self-motivation, self‐regulation, and problem-solving skills. Learning moves from the concrete to the abstract through manipulating, experimenting, and discovering.
The three‐year cycle is a fundamental element of Montessori education. Within this model, the youngest child looks to and learns from older peers, who act as role models and classroom leaders. The child remains in the same classroom for three years, beginning as a three-year-old and finishing as a Kindergarten student. The materials are familiar and many routines remain the same. This consistency from year to year provides security and a sense of ownership, and as children develop and change, their use of the materials changes too. For example, for the first-year child, some materials are fascinating but too challenging for the moment. This child will observe older students working, though, and will one day be ready. In his final year in the classroom, the child masters these challenging concepts. Competence, confidence, and pride are the gifts of the three‐year cycle.
