Toddler Program
This half day program has the highest ratio of educators to students and provides a safe, warm
environment where interest in learning is sparked at an early age. With specially designed
materials, these children have the opportunity to choose activities at their own unique pace.
This hands-on classroom is designed to foster independence, self-confidence, and curiosity.
This program also emphasizes key developmental abilities essential for future progress in the
later classrooms, such as pincer grip, voice control, gross motor skills, phonic awareness,
grace & courtesy, and care of self.
Areas of study in this class include:
Practical Life activities such as pouring, painting, polishing, cleaning, fastening (buttons,
zippers, tying, sewing), care of self, and care of the environment
Language -- extensive vocabulary introduction, letter sounds, phonic awareness
Math -- Awareness of counting, quantity and basic operations
Sensorial -- many activities designed to offer students a chance to use their five senses, such as
touch, smell, listening, visual stimulation, and taste sensations
Art & Music -- Activities such as painting, gluing, coloring
Music -- Singing, musical instrument awareness, and movement games
This half-day program (9:00 am to 12:00 pm) offers the option of 5 days per week, 3 days per week, or two days per week. For additional cost, children may also enroll in our less-structured Extended Day program which occurs from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
Early Childhood
This program nurtures the needs of children ages 3-6 years. While many traditional methods suggest that
children are incapable of understanding complex concepts, Maria Montessori recognized that children of
this age are like sponges, eager to soak up all that the environment offers them. For this reason,
the Early Childhood classroom is very rich and inviting to the children, offering them independent
exploration of a carefully prepared environment with materials specifically designed for their unique
interests and abilities. This program also emphasizes the responsibilities that each student has in
creating a peaceful classroom community. Experience with materials in this classroom lays an essential
foundation for future research and understanding in the elementary classrooms.
Areas of study for Early Childhood include:
Practical Life -- grace & courtesy, spooning, pouring, digging, painting, tracing, cutting, gluing, polishing,
cleaning, caring for the self and the environment
Sensorial & Geometry -- Using the five senses, children are exposed to different sensations including sight,
hearing, touch, smell, and taste. This includes introduction to different geometric figures and shapes through
tactile representations of them.
Language -- Children are exposed to phonic sounds, blending sounds, reading, handwriting, creative writing,
basic parts of speech, as well as a very rich vocabulary throughout the classroom
Geography & Culture -- Children learn about other cultures through stories, art, and classroom celebrations,
as well as learning geography through puzzle maps and art activities
Math -- Children learn about quantity of large and small numbers, and have an introduction to adding,
subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. By using concrete materials that the children can manipulate,
they understand complex concepts much earlier than traditional schools allow. Through the materials,
the young children learn to understand what they are doing rather than just being taught the techniques
to complete an assignment.
Biology & Science -- Children love to understand the world and the animals in their lives. Children learn
to understand their world through lessons about the weather, and basic physical science. Children also learn
about various animals including parts of the animals, both invertebrate and vertebrate; habitats, and the life
cycles of different animals.
Art -- The Early Childhood classroom is very hands-on and creative. Therefore, art and music are a part of
every subject area, as well as being subjects in their own right. Children experiment with different artistic
mediums to create work they can enjoy and be proud of. By fostering children's individual creativity, we
stimulate them to take initiative in their own education and to achieve excellence in their work as they work
toward their potential.
Music -- Children experiment with tone, pitch, and rhythm, as well as learn many songs for their enjoyment
and to solidify lessons taught in class. Children also experiment with making their own music. Children are
so moved by music that incorporating it into our curriculum brings the work alive for the children, and
enriches their experience greatly.
Specialists -- Approximately once each week we welcome a Spanish Specialist into our classroom to teach the
children Spanish.
Lower Elementary
The Lower Elementary classroom builds on the progress of children in the younger classrooms by helping children ages 6-9 to order the universe. Because children of this age have an insatiable curiosity, this program seeks to offer them the world in what is often called a Cosmic Curriculum. This program uses the formation of the universe, galaxies, and our Earth to launch studies of astronomy, science, physical & cultural geography, biology, language, math, and geometry. Using hands-on, manipulative materials as well as creative projects and dramatic story-telling, children in this program gain an understanding of the universe and our world unparalleled in traditional schools. This program fosters curiosity, imagination, and independence by catering very specifically to the interests and needs of these older children.
Elementary units of study include:
Astronomy and Science -- Formation of the universe, solar system, and the Earth; layers of the Earth; volcanoes; types of clouds; earthquakes; life & death of a star; the planets of our solar system; constellations; atomic structure; rocks and minerals; layers of the atmosphere; chemistry, physics and physical science
Geography & Culture -- Students learn about the seven continents and study two continents in-depth each year through: complex puzzle maps of the world; recreated maps of the continents and countries of the world; country, continent, and state research; and geographical features of the world. Students also develop cultural awareness through lessons and work that teach about other cultures as well as lessons which address the commonalities shared by all humans. Upper Elementary students also study history, politics, and government as well as more complex studies of both physical and cultural geography.
Language -- Through an environment that is very rich in language vocabulary and content, children are immersed in language in every area of the classroom. The children also have formal lessons and work on reading, handwriting, parts of speech and sentence analysis, word study, creative writing, literature, poetry, and spelling.
Math -- Through concrete, hands-on materials, children are able to learn complex concepts at a much earlier age than most traditional approaches realize. Children in the Lower Elementary program learn and are able to confidently accomplish addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of four digit numbers. These children also learn about quantity of very large numbers, addition & subtraction of fractions, equivalent fractions, and geometry. Upper Elementary students further these studies through work with decimals, square roots, algebra, in-depth fraction and geometry work, and other more complex math curricula.
Biology -- Children learn about plants and animals in great depth through the studies of Botany and Zoology. Lessons include the five classes of vertebrates, types of invertebrates, internal and external parts of animals and plants, types of leaves, fruits, and seeds. Independent research also enriches the children's study of biology.
Specialists -- We have specialists in Spanish, Art, and Dance/Drama who each work with the elementary classes once each week in the afternoons.
Upper Elementary
This classroom is designed for children ages 9-12 years. Building on the foundation laid in the Lower Elementary classroom, this program expands the curriculum with greater depth into history, science, geography, language, and math. Employing diverse individual projects for all subject areas, this program brings the curriculum alive for these older children, enabling them to initiate research and discovery on their own as they complete and design these projects. This classroom also emphasizes the need for these children to see the real world through extensive field trips and hands-on activities.
Elementary units of study include:
Astronomy and Science -- Formation of the universe, solar system, and the Earth; layers of the Earth; volcanoes; types of clouds; earthquakes; life & death of a star; the planets of our solar system; constellations; atomic structure; rocks and minerals; layers of the atmosphere; chemistry, physics and physical science
Geography & Culture -- Students learn about the seven continents and study two continents in-depth each year through: complex puzzle maps of the world; recreated maps of the continents and countries of the world; country, continent, and state research; and geographical features of the world. Students also develop cultural awareness through lessons and work that teach about other cultures as well as lessons which address the commonalities shared by all humans. Upper Elementary students also study history, politics, and government as well as more complex studies of both physical and cultural geography.
Language -- Through an environment that is very rich in language vocabulary and content, children are immersed in language in every area of the classroom. The children also have formal lessons and work on reading, handwriting, parts of speech and sentence analysis, word study, creative writing, literature, poetry, and spelling.
Math -- Through concrete, hands-on materials, children are able to learn complex concepts at a much earlier age than most traditional approaches realize. Children in the Lower Elementary program learn and are able to confidently accomplish addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of four digit numbers. These children also learn about quantity of very large numbers, addition & subtraction of fractions, equivalent fractions, and geometry. Upper Elementary students further these studies through work with decimals, square roots, algebra, in-depth fraction and geometry work, and other more complex math curricula.
Biology -- Children learn about plants and animals in great depth through the studies of Botany and Zoology. Lessons include the five classes of vertebrates, types of invertebrates, internal and external parts of animals and plants, types of leaves, fruits, and seeds. Independent research also enriches the children's study of biology.
Specialists -- We have specialists in Spanish, Art, and Dance/Drama who each work with the elementary classes once each week in the afternoons.
