With bright, open classrooms appearing to invite the outside in from windows overlooking the beautiful front yard, children in the Primary class are in a prepared learning environment designed to meet their individual needs and to assure them the opportunity to reach their full potential. The shelves in the Primary class are lined with works that are progressive, moving from simple to complex and concrete to abstract. All the work is designed around the developmental needs as well as the interests of the individual child. Math, Language, Sensorial, Practical Life, Science, Geography and The Arts are all part of the Primary program.
In the multi-age 3- 5 year old Primary program the young child has the opportunity to look to the older child for social and academic guidance; the older child has the opportunity to develop a high level of self-esteem and a greater sense of responsibility. This provides the basis for a high sense of community within the classroom and among the children as individuals. The development of the child, mentally, physically, socially and emotionally, is enhanced by the multi-age status of the classroom. With a great emphasis on the lessons of Grace and Courtesy, the child learns respect for their peers, for their environment and for the world in which they live. Each year provides a unique opportunity for the child to advance so that they are ready to meet all the challenges of Kindergarten.
The Primary child is exposed to exercises that employ movement, manipulatives and free choice (within limits). In the Montessori class free choice means the child may choose work on which they have had a lesson; work that they use properly and return to the shelf. From following these guidelines, the child develops a sense of personal responsibility. They develop a sense of independence by learning, through Practical Life activities, how to wash, clean and dry the work as necessary, sweep the floor, scrub the table, mop, bake, sew on a button, etc. They learn how to use words with peers when they are angry or hurt. At the conclusion of the Primary program the child is well on their way to becoming a good citizen of the world, of reaching their full potential as a human being and most importantly for becoming a life-long learner.
