M: The Magazine for Montessori Families
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Important Forms:
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• Extracurricular Activities.pdf
• Medication Authorization.pdf
• Sunscreen Permission.pdf
• Waiting List Deposit.pdf
• Work Share Credit.pdf
• Emergency Contacts - Authorized Pick-up.pdf

   

Ages 3 to 6 years old.
From 3 to 6 years of age, the child reaches a different stage in which repetition and manipulation of the environment are critical to the development of concentration, coordination, independence and a sense of order. The child learns skills for everyday living, reading, sorting, grading, classifying; all of which lead to the development of reading, writing and a mathematical mind.

At this age, the child is in the "Absorbent Mind". During this time, he absorbs everything in his environment through Sensorial exploration. He constructs his mind, his memory, the ability to understand and is able to think through impressions gained from the environment. The Primary age student is also further entering what Maria Montessori called the "Sensitive Period", a time when development of language, acquisition, order, detail, sensorial exploration, writing words, numbers, manners, courtesy and precise movement is at its most perfect opportunity.

The Primary curriculum covers a three-year period and focuses on the following areas of learning: Practical Life, Sensorial Exercises, Language, Math, Cultural Study and Foreign Language (Spanish and French).

Practical Life helps children develop their fine motor skills and the means to take care of themselves and their environment. Some Practical Life exercises are sweeping, pouring juice or water, washing dishes, slicing bread and spreading it, and cutting an apple.

Sensorial Exercises help children develop the child's visual, auditory and tactile senses while also enhancing perceptions and logical thinking.

The Language area develops the child's oral and written language. Materials include objects and pictures to be named, matched, labeled and classified to aid vocabulary development. Once the child begins to make blend sounds to form words, a variety of materials are available, ranging from 3-letter, short vocabulary words to read, to materials that teach long-vowel sounds and parts of speech.

Mathematics materials, such as number rods and golden beads, are used to foster an understanding of mathematical concepts. The children are constantly manipulating objects in their efforts to understand number concepts. The early materials are designed to teach the basics, such as the quantity and symbols of the numbers 1-10. The more advanced materials teach addition, multiplication, subtraction and division.

In Cultural Studies, children explore the world with puzzle maps, land and water forms, and nomenclature cards. Science activities are nature-based and include the study of animals and plant types. Love and respect for all living creatures is emphasized. Songs, stories and games are incorporated throughout the year.

Upper Primary class is for children that have reached their 5th birthday. Instead of quiet time after lunch, the remainder of the academic day (until 2:30 pm) is spent working with the Montessori materials.