Learning begins at birth, the brain immediately starts the process of growth and development. During the first years of life, children learn through play, through interaction with things around them, through attempts to do something on their own, using their hands in particular. It is the interaction with the environment as well as the sensory experiences that give young children the mental stimulation they need.

Our Pre Primary environment is carefully designed to address the needs of children from 2-3 in order to help them acquire independence and practical life skills. The environment is loving, nurturing, peaceful and safe for the children. The space is designed with the children in mind, giving them the opportunity to choose their own work, to explore, discover and learn a new thing every day.

The 2-3 year old curriculum includes:

• Care of self: hand-washing, dressing (zipping, buttoning etc.) putting on/off a coat, setting the table, eating, manners.

• Care of the environment: cleaning, dusting, plant care, keeping everything neat and organized.

• Large motor skills: walking, running, jumping, balancing etc.

• Fine motor skills: grasping, spooning, water transferring, tweezer transfer, art work etc.

• Sensorial: Pink cubes, brown prisms, Color boxes, Sound Cylinders etc.

• Math: Introduction to numerals +1 773 657 3898, counting, recognizing numerals 1-10.

• Language: nomenclature, discussing pictures, singing, conversation introduction to Phonics.

• Social skills: developing manners through interaction with teachers and peers.

Montessori Primary Programs include children ages three to six. The multi-age classrooms are fundamental to the Montessori method and offer children a peaceful place that is full of possibilities. The materials are sequential and self -correcting, very appealing to the child’s tendencies to discover and learn.

Most lessons are given individually in order to allow the child to progress at his own pace and also learn how to concentrate, gain order, coordination and independence. 

In the Montessori system children learn to respect the work of others and take an active role in maintaining their environment that is structured on five main areas: Practical Life; Sensorial, Mathematics, Cultural (History, Biology, Geography, Physical Science and Arts), Language.

Practical Life, area is the stepping stone for all the other areas. Children learn the care of self (hand washing, folding, taking off/putting on a coat, buttoning, zipping, snapping, buckling etc.), to care of the environment ( rolling a rug, pouring activities, tweezer transfer, spooning, dish washing, plant care, flower arranging) and care of the world or grace and courtesy ( greetings and responses, introductions, how to speak to someone who is busy, walking around a rug, peace and conflict resolution.)

Sensorial area addresses the development of senses by helping the child to be able to classify and describe many impressions and experiences that come to him through his senses. The materials in this area help children understand, organize and attach words to a wide range of information he receives through the senses (images, sounds, smell, feelings) developing in this way their mental and physical perceptions. The sensorial materials were designed by Maria Montessori in order to cover all the qualities that can be perceived through the senses, such as size, shape, composition, texture, volume, weight, temperature etc. 

Mathematics in a Montessori environment is very systematic, process-oriented, and progresses logically through stages of an increasing complexity. All the materials lead the child from concrete to an abstract understanding. Materials are presented in a concrete manner, through associations of numerals with quantity and slowly moving towards more abstract activities. (numeration, decimal system, computation, the arithmetic tables etc). 

Cultural area. An important element in the development of a child’s personality is the proper contact with reality and his ability engage effectively in his reality. Like everything that is offered to the child at this age, the Montessori cultural materials are based on sensations and are introduced to the child in a specific order. First of all he is introduced to the world ( Land and Water globe, Continent Globe, Continent Maps, land and water Formations etc.) then the plants ( Botany Cabinet, Parts of Tree, Parts of the Flower, Life Cycles of Plants, Wheat Germination etc.) and the animals from it ( Vertebrates/ Invertebrates, Amphibians, Mammals, Parts of a Bird, Parts of a Horse etc.)

Language. Children have a genuine hunger for words because they are in the sensitive period for language. This is the time to expose the child to a clear, rich and differentiated language through which the child can express himself. The Montessori environment offers the child concrete materials of language development, that enhance his vocabulary and the ability to create connections in order to prepare the child for reading and writing.

The learning of reading and writing takes place through a sensorial approach, by working with concrete materials such as the Sandpaper Letters, Moveable Alphabet etc.