The Primary Program is designed to be a 3-year program that provides young children between the ages of 3 to 6 years old, with a supportive and enriching learning environment based on the principles of the Montessori method. Developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, this educational approach emphasizes independence, self-directed learning, and the holistic development of a child's physical, intellectual, emotional, and social skills.
The Montessori Guides will introduce materials to each student based on their developmental readiness and maturity. Once a material is introduced, the children are welcome to work on it as long as they want or need to until that skill is mastered. All materials are available during the entire 2.5-3 hour work period.
There are 5 subject areas that are found in the Primary classroom:
1. Practical Life:
Practical life activities are incorporated to foster independence, concentration, and coordination. These activities may include pouring, washing hands, buttoning, and tying shoelaces. Some other practical life activities found in this program are food preparation, caring for the environment and self, and plant or pet care.
Children engage in real-life tasks that promote the development of fine and gross motor skills while instilling a sense of responsibility.
2. Sensorial:
The sensorial area focuses on refining the child's five senses through activities that involve touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing.
Activities include color matching, sound discrimination, and tactile exploration to enhance sensory perception and discrimination, and to help children make sense of the physical world around them.
3. Language:
Language development is a key component, with a focus on spoken language, vocabulary building, and written expression.
Children work with materials like Sandpaper Letters, Movable Alphabet, and language games to develop reading and writing skills at their own pace.
4. Mathematics:
Mathematical concepts are introduced through concrete materials that allow children to explore and understand abstract mathematical principles, starting with the most basic (quantity recognition and rote counting) and moving up to more advanced math concepts (multiplication, division, fractions).
The use of materials such as the Number Rods, Sandpaper Numbers, and Golden Beads help children grasp fundamental mathematical concepts like quantity, sequence, and operations.
5. Cultural Studies:
The cultural curriculum introduces children to geography, history, science, and art, fostering an appreciation for the diversity of the world.
Activities may include map exploration, timeline work, and exposure to various cultural artifacts.
