Primary Program (Ages 3 Years – 6 Years)
Pinewoods Primary rooms exude engaged independence of the young child. The Montessori Primary classroom is often called the “Children’s House” as it is prepared as a comfortable home-like setting designed specifically to meet the needs of the young child. Guided by one teacher and one teaching assistant, the multi-age setting benefits all children: older children model behavior, exhibiting learning engagement, empathy, and guidance. The younger children benefit by observing the leadership and mentorship. Families looking for Kindergarten programs will see that this is part of the Primary classroom. Five- and six-year-olds explore advanced language, math, science, and geography through small group and individualized lessons. As Dr. Montessori observed, young children’s learning is almost effortless as they explore, manipulate, and internalize their environment.
Respecting the unique individuality of all children, the environment encourages a natural progression through different sensitive periods or times when children are most ready to learn specific skills. The following components are inherent in the primary environments:
Within the Montessori framework, our intentional communities are organized into five integrated curriculum areas: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, and Cultural, including science and geography. Music and art are included as part of the Practical Life curriculum daily. Spanish Language exposure is offered on a weekly basis. Our indoor and outdoor prepared environments provide an extended opportunity for both fine and gross motor development.
In our dynamic little communities, children learn to respect all living and non-living things, to care for their environments, and to resolve conflicts using words to advocate their needs and wants. Undoubtedly, a significant benefit of a Montessori education is the development of peaceful, cooperative, respectful communities. This is Peace Education in action.
- Respect for the child as a unique, capable, and independent being
- Freedom of choice to independently select works of interest
- Organization of classrooms structured in a progression that reflects a children’s innate needs
- Opportunity to observe and connect with the natural world
- Attention to aesthetics and beauty that captures the interest of children
- Montessori Materials that are attractive, age and developmentally-appropriate, self-correcting, and sequenced from the concrete to the abstract.
Within the Montessori framework, our intentional communities are organized into five integrated curriculum areas: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, and Cultural, including science and geography. Music and art are included as part of the Practical Life curriculum daily. Spanish Language exposure is offered on a weekly basis. Our indoor and outdoor prepared environments provide an extended opportunity for both fine and gross motor development.
In our dynamic little communities, children learn to respect all living and non-living things, to care for their environments, and to resolve conflicts using words to advocate their needs and wants. Undoubtedly, a significant benefit of a Montessori education is the development of peaceful, cooperative, respectful communities. This is Peace Education in action.