Primary Program (ages 3 - 6)
"The most important period of life...........is the first one, the period from birth to age six," said Dr. Montessori "For that is the time when man's intelligence itself, his greatest implement, is being formed."
Primary classrooms are designed specially for the child and the entire environment is created to facilitate their learning process. Maria Montessori observed that children learn by doing and wrote that the "hand was the instrument of the mind". The Montessori curricula, techniques and materials satisfy the natural tendency for this age child to learn by doing. Independence, coordination, order, self-discipline and concentration are developed.
Children work individually and cooperatively with materials that engage their curiosity. The children are given lessons using the materials and then are free to explore and observe. An emphasis is placed on the process rather than the product of learning.
The aim is to develop a love of work and a joy of learning.
The Montessori primary program includes activities for practical life, refinement of the senses, language and mathematics. Geography, history, physical science, and life science are presented to the child through various language and manipulative activities. Movement, music and art form part of the day-to-day activities.
- Practical life activities enhance the development of control and movement, sequencing and concentration through inviting and purposeful work.
- Sensorial materials enable the child to order, classify and describe sense experiences such as dimension, color, texture, sound and sight.
- Language includes oral language development, written expression, reading, elements of grammar, and literature.
- Mathematics makes use of manipulative materials to help the child gain and understanding of the concepts of number, symbol, sequence, operations, and memorization of basic facts.
- Music and art are vehicles for self-expression as well as areas around which to build appreciation for other modes of communication.
Kindergarten School Day
Our program provides a full day Montessori experience. The morning is spent in their class with a mixed age group of children. It is a wonderful experience for the kindergarten child to be the "oldest" among their classroom peers.
After lunch, when their classmates, and the younger children have left the room for their nap, the kindergarten children are left to work with their teacher in the afternoon. This provides the children another work period for the teacher to further work (especially in mathematics and language) with the children for successful transition to the elementary classroom. The children also have field trips and Tae Kwon Doe education.
We believe that the Kindergarten year in the Montessori classroom is very important to the completion of the Montessori Primary experience. We are pleased and proud that parents agree with us, because the majority of our children do not leave our school to join the public school system at the kindergarten level.
For more information regarding the importance of the Kindergarten year, please see the article "Why Montessori for the Kindergarten Year".
Lower Elementary Program
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It is at the elementary level that children become
fascinated with the "how" and "why" of everything. Using the skills
acquired in the primary (preschool) years, the elementary student
becomes an explorer of the universe in a more profound way. They are
entering a period of imagination, reason, socialization and moral
justice. They begin to realize that they love to learn. While the primary-aged child, from age three to six may ask the adult, "Help me do it myself" the elementary child asks, "Help me think of it myself." |
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Dr. Montessori's plan for educating
the elementary child was to give him a vision of the universe and
raise a thinking child. The result of her work is an integrated
curriculum: Mathematics,
Geometry, Algebra, Language, Reading, Grammar, Literature, History,
Physical Geography, Cultural Geography, Economic Geography, Anatomy,
Ecology, Chemistry, Geology, Mineralogy, Astronomy, Drama, Music,
Art, and Physical Education. Montessori education teaches children to think, not just memorize facts, feed them back and forget them. Students literally learn how to learn and become fully engaged in the learning process. Children work both individually and in groups and are encouraged to pursue their own passion, with guidance of the teacher. One distinct characteristic of the Montessori elementary program is the absence of regularly scheduled grades and tests. Children are able to assess their work weekly in personal conference with the teacher. Individual goals are set for the following week allowing each child the chance to know what it means to work to his or her fullest potential. The freedom allowed and the responsibility expected in the classroom, enables the child to develop a strong sense of self-esteem and inner discipline that is carried throughout the child's life of learning. The American Montessori Association (AMS) produced an educational video regarding Montessori Elementary education. This video provides a wonderful "peek" into the Montessori Elementary classroom. Requires ActiveX controllers to be enabled on your web browser. |
14138 Travilah
Road, Rockville MD 20850. (301) 309-9532
Photos and Content © 2004 The Primary Montessori Day School; All Rights Reserved.
Photos and Content © 2004 The Primary Montessori Day School; All Rights Reserved.
