Primary

It’s a Mixed Age Classroom

Because the curriculum is individualized, your child can work at his or her own pace while participating in a mixed age classroom community. Your younger child learns by observing the behavior and activities of the older children. Your older child gains self-confidence, leadership skills and responsibility by setting an example for her younger friends.

The Gift of Choice

Your child will be introduced to a broad range of concepts and activities in individual and small group lessons. The real learning, however, occurs through independent activity by choosing to explore it, repeat it and perfect it.

A Deep Connection Between Teacher and Child

Our AMI certified teachers choose this career because of their love for children and dedication to Montessori. Their depth of training and knowledge is amplified by the joyful and deep relationship they develop with your child throughout the three-year journey together.

Child Centered (Not Teacher Centered)

Unlike conventional classrooms, where all children are expected to pay close attention to the teacher, our program does the opposite – the teacher is trained to closely observe your child’s interests, tendencies and needs. You won’t see the teacher standing at the front of the classroom at a chalkboard, but rather down at your child’s level, engaged with her or a small group.

Exposure to a second language

Decatur Montessori School has native Spanish speakers that speak Spanish to children. This enables children to be exposed to a 2nd language. Special Spanish camps are also organized during summer. Learning a second language gives children an added advantage as they grow and compete in an increasingly challenging world.

Beautiful Hands-On Materials Help Your Child Learn

The scientifically designed Montessori materials help your child learn through hands-on use and exploration. Through continued use, he develops as a concrete understanding of abstract concepts, such as mathematics, providing a solid foundation for learning into the future.

Group Activities and Play

While most of the day is spent in self-directed work, there are also times for group activity and play. The teacher may gather a group for songs or to tell stories about a cultural, scientific or historical theme of interest. Ample time is also given to run, dig, explore and play with friends outdoors.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Instead of a top down curriculum based upon age, the teacher is trained to respect your child’s unique potential and connects him with the lesson best suited at that precise moment of development. Your child will be challenged according to her ability, not to a generic standard.

The Children’s House

The teacher works to perfect the environment – in it, your child works to perfect him or herself. Our teachers put tremendous care and attention to detail into the classroom with low shelves, beautiful artwork, books and cultural items of interest to pique your child’s interest and stimulate his senses. The children respond by developing a sense of classroom ownership and a drive to care for it, further deepening the bonds of the community and their quest to learn.

Essential Skills for a Successful Life

The Primary classroom is designed to help your child become his best self. Through “grace and courtesy” activities, we teach your child how to solve conflicts, how to act politely in social situations and how to be kind and helpful to friends.

Kindergarten Included

Montessori is a continuum of education that allows your child to build upon experiences each year. Your child will stay in the Primary classroom for 3 years, including the traditional “kindergarten year” – when the seeds of learning come to fruition. Reading and writing come to life from sounds and symbols. She is introduced to numbers and the decimal system. She learns about geometric figures and the political countries of our world. She leaves the program with a strong set of academic skills; but, far more importantly, with the attitude that learning is fun, exciting and boundless.

Our Primary Program

Primary community – also known as Children’s House- is the stage where children are fairly independent. The classroom environment includes large spectrum of manipulative materials for learning practical life skills, refining sensory discrimination, enhancing language skills, learning mathematics, and learning cultural subjects. Children have a different experience every year as the role based on age and knowledge changes. The teacher is a catalyst stimulating new interests in new carefully chosen concepts and materials and allowing children to explore.

To derive full advantage of basic Montessori foundation, parents choose to complete the year 6 or crossing into 7 (based upon date of birth) and then opt to seek admission in Grade 1 either in public schools or Elementary Montessori.

Exposure to world cultures, cooking, music, dance, art, gardening, exploration of environment and sports is given throughout the Primary program

• Practical life exercises: include care of self, care of environment, and grace and courtesy lessons.
• Sensorial exercises: include development of visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, olfactory, thermic, baric, and stereognostic senses.
• Language: includes development of spoken language, writing, reading, grammar, and creative writing. 2nd language Spanish is knit in the curriculum.
• Mathematics: includes learning numbers and counting with an understanding of the decimal system. Children learn the four major mathematical operations through specially designed pedagogical materials. The materials designed for mathematics serve as a bridge between concrete understanding and abstract realization.
• Cultural Subjects: include the study of geography, history, science, nature, art, and music. This area is offered as a link to life around the world and throughout history.