Primary

 Primary Program (ages 2½ – 6) (Pre-K thru Kindergarten)

Part=time: Either 3 days a week (Tues, Wed, Thurs) 8:00 am - 3 pm or five 1/2 days (8:00 - 11:30 am)

Full-time:  8:00 am to 3:00 pm

Maria Montessori used the term "absorbent mind" to characterize the miraculous learning that occurs during the primary years. Never again will the human mind so effortlessly take in what surrounds it. The environment in the classroom is arranged to captivate the child's interest during the "sensitive periods" for touch, order, movement, language, and math. The work is predominately individual and self-correcting, inviting repetition. Three focal points are care of self, care of environment, and care of others.

Strong concentration and will are developed when a child's efforts are guided by informed choices and true interest. The children enjoy freedom within well-defined limits. In short, the primary curriculum is designed to respond to the universal cry of the young child: "Help me to help myself."

Lower Elementary (ages 6-9 (Grades 1-3)

 In Lower Elementary, social development is one of the main learning tasks of the student. In a Montessori environment, the teacher works with the students’ social needs as well as their academic needs. 

Children stay with the same classroom over a 3 year period, giving the student the opportunity to work on projects with other children in a mixed age setting.  One example of this is an older child reading to a younger child, occasionally pointing out letters of the alphabet as they read. The older child has the opportunity to develop and reinforce their reading, while the younger develops listening and early reading skills. This is also an important social and friendship building time for both.  

This 3 year window also gives students a familiar learning environment, and a structure that lets them build upon their previous experiences, leading from concrete (hands-on) to more abstract learning.  The benefit to the teacher is an in-depth knowledge of each student’s personalities and learning styles so that the child’s full potential can be reached while they are guided through the curriculum at their own pace and learn at their individual levels.

Our fully integrated elementary program provides numerous advantages. The student’s curiosity is encouraged by the careful preparation of the environment and the lessons within it.  The child participates in meaningful, purposeful activities which helps them see a broader application in real life. This helps them understand why learning is important and how each of the areas of study is interrelated and connected.  It also allows them to see how this will apply to them and real life, and how they can impact their community and the world. 

Upper Elementary Ages (9-12) Grades (4-6)

As Montessori teachers, we help each of the children learn at their own pace through individualized instruction. We strive to foster a fundamental love of learning, creativity, self-expression and critical thinking skills. Our overall goal as Montessori teachers is to facilitate an environment that motivates, inspires and encourages children to discover their passion.

• The Upper Elementary classroom encompasses all subject areas like Lower Elementary, however it is more student research driven. Now that the children know how to read and write, they are more self-sufficient and independent learners.
• The children learn to cite their sources of information, and compile their research in a variety of presentation styles (essay, power point presentation, skit, demonstration, model). They present their research to the class to teach the information.
• The Upper Elementary classroom continues to use concrete manipulatives to teach abstract concepts, especially in math. However there are fewer concrete manipulatives in general because the child has learned to abstract many concepts in language. The capability to think abstractly is an intellectual hallmark for the Upper Elementary child. Still it is always best to use concrete manipulatives when introducing any abstract concept.
• We facilitate the children’s ability to think abstractly by teaching them how to critically analyze historical events. We consider the scientific method while doing experiments, and in literature we discuss inquiry-based questions (open-ended questions – answers depend on individual perception).
• The children learn time management skills, and how to complete a long-term assignment with due dates. The children plan their work each week with individual work plans. The work plans specify the work for each subject, and how many times a week to do it.
• We encourage the child’s right to choose their work as they see fit. The work plan ensures academic balance, and that no work is avoided or forgotten. Maria Montessori states, “A child needs freedom within limits.”
• The child is motivated to complete their work plan so that they may use the time remaining in the work period to explore whatever learning they are truly passionate about.                
• The mixed age group offers a variety of opportunities for peer mentoring individually and within cooperative learning groups.
• We provide the children of this age group with a variety of opportunities for social interaction to develop an emotional awareness, and to teach them how to express themselves in a diplomatic manner. 
• We teach the children how to solve their own social problems peacefully using conflict resolution strategies and role playing techniques.
• The children experience what it means to be a good citizen in the community by helping each other, cleaning and maintaining the learning environment and recycling to care for the Earth. They do a daily community service work for the other classrooms in our school by listening to a younger child practice reading everyday.his is a good place to show off who’s occupying the corner offices. Write a nice bio about each executive that includes what they do, how long they’ve been at it, and what got them to where they are.

Afternoon Enrichment 5 days a week from 3:15 pm to 5:30 pm - any day the school is open for normal business hours

This program is offered on a fee basis to any student to provide a safe & nurturing after-school environment..  Nature based art projects, games, and nourishing snacks are available for the children each day.  

The fee is $10 per day and can be used as needed.  Drop-ins are welcome and there is no minimum fee per month.

Please note that there is a $1 per minute late pickup fee that is due and payable for every minute after 5:30 pm.  The late fee must be paid that day to the attendant.

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