Montessori Primary Community Program Description
for ages 2 1/2 to 5+

Introduction

Doctor Montessori's philosophy of education is based on "the personality, a harmonious growth of all potentialities of the child, mental and physical, according to the laws of its being..."

Dr. Montessori stated that children have natural tendencies toward learning, that stages of learning exist for which there should be corresponding educational environments and trained teachers who "prepare the environment". The child learns independently using the components of the environment; the teacher coaches and observes the child who chooses her activities. The teacher is the link between the child and the environment.

The learning environment cultivates individualization, freedom of choice, concentration, independence, problem solving abilities, social interaction, interdisciplinary breadth, and competency in basic skills.

The Primary Environment

The Montessori classroom is a "living room" for children. Children choose their materials from open shelves with self-correcting materials and work in discrete work areas. Over a period of time, the children develop into a "normalized community" working with high concentration and few interruptions. The program includes the following components:

1.             The practical life exercises enhance the development of task organization and cognitive order through care of self, care of the environment, exercises of grace and courtesy and refinement of physical movement.

2.             The sensorial materials enable the child to order, classify and describe sensory impressions in relation, length, width, temperature, mass, color, et cetera.

3.             The Montessori mathematics program, through the manipulative materials, allows the child to internalize concepts of number, symbol, sequence, operations and memorization of basic facts.

4.             The language work includes oral language development, written expression, reading, the study of grammar, creative dramatics and children's literature. Basic skills in writing and reading are developed through the use of sandpaper letters, alphabet cut-outs, and various presentations allowing children to effortlessly link sounds and letter symbols and to express their thoughts through writing.

5.             The child is also presented with cultural studies including geography, history, and life sciences, music, art and movement education.

Daily Schedule

We "follow the children" and therefore our schedule may vary from day to day.

7:30am to 9:00am            

"Early Birds" arrive. They are greeted and then may choose an activity from the shelves, help the morning teacher prepare for the day (sweep the porch, cut flowers for the vases, fold cloths, fill the bird feeders...) or play outside. Children arriving before 8:30am may bring their breakfast and eat it at the snack table.

9:00 to 9:20am            

Morning circle - calendar, special projects, sharing ...

9:20 to 11:20am            

Independent work time - children choose their activities and "work" individually or in small groups. One teacher may give presentations to individuals or small groups while the others overview and assist.

11:20 to 12:00pm            

Inside/outside option - children may work or play outside with classmates or teachers, or may continue to work inside with one of the other teachers (ratios permitting).

12:00 to 12:45pm            

Story or singing circle - the children wash their hands for lunch, two at a time and then prepare their place for lunch, setting out their placemats, napkins and dishes. The teachers serve lunch buffet style. After lunch, the children clear, crumb and sponge their tables and wash their dishes. They may then choose an activity.

12:45 to 1:15pm            

Recess. At 1:00pm, students enrolled in our morning program depart for the day.

1:15 to 1:30pm            
Afternoon activities begin. Some children get ready for nap.

1:30 to 2:45pm            

Independent work time. There may be a group outing or presentation.

2:45 to 3:00pm            

Group time - ending circle - game or story.

3:00 to 5:30pm            

"Afternoon Club" - more free choice time, inside and outside time, art activities, games.

Morning snack is provided between 9:30am and 11:00am. Afternoon snack is provided between 3:30 and 5:30pm. Snacks are set up for individual servings, Montessori style. Children wash their hands, serve themselves according to the sign, sit at the snack table, eat and then tidy up the snack table, making it ready for the next person.

We have a Spanish teacher who comes in once a week and we try to incorporate the new vocabulary into our everyday life.

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