Primary Program 

The primary environment unifies the social, physical, and intellectual functioning of the child.  It provides the child with an early and general foundation that includes a positive attitude toward school, inner security and a sense of order, pride in the physical environment, abiding curiosity, a habit of concentration, habits of initiative and persistence, the ability to make decisions, self-discipline and a sense of responsibility to other members of the class, school, and community.  This foundation will enable the child to acquire more specialized knowledge and skills throughout his school career.

Work in the primary classroom includes practical life exercises involving the child in care for his/her person, care for the indoor and outdoor environments, grace and courtesy and control of movement. Children entering the primary program need to be able to use the toilet with regularity. Sensorial materials refine the development of the senses: visual, tactical, auditory, olfactory and gustatory.

The Math program utilizes specially designed manipulative materials that allow the child to understand the foundation of numbers and mathematical processes. This program is structural, correlated and sequential. Within the three year cycle the primary child performs work in all four operations and may include complex work as in long division and algebra. Using the Language materials the child develops spoken and written language. We provide means and opportunities for improving communication skills, speaking and listening. Our language program is phonetically based with materials and experiences resulting in reading and cursive writing.  In the Cultural Subjects we study geography, history, life sciences, art and culture. The cosmic task of Montessori education is to prepare our children to improve the earth and life for all people on it leading to the possibility of world harmony and peace.

Children who have developed the academic skills, an inquisitive mind, a confident manner, and a strong work ethic in the Primary are ready to move into the Lower Elementary classroom.