Primary
Children ages 3 through Kindergarten
As young children begin exploring beyond the bounds of their own immediate surroundings, the Montessori Method — and the Acorn Montessori School — are prepared to help nurture their emerging curiosity, their sense of discovery, and their creativity. Our Primary classrooms, created for children ages 3 through 6, have been designed to foster the development of their linguistic, cognitive, and motor skills. They also help children explore the important roles they have to play within their family, their community, and their culture.
The Primary program is located in two different spaces. Children may be placed in the Green House, which houses the Black/Red Oak classroom, or the Children’s House, which houses the Chinquapin Oak classroom. All of Acorn’s Primary classrooms are warm spaces similar to a family room with oriental rugs and large windows for ample natural lighting.
Programs:
Morning class:
8.45am to 11.45am
Afternoon class:
12.30pm to 2.45pm
Full-day class:
8.45am to 2.45pm
Breakfast Club:
7.30am to 8.45am
Rainbow Club:
2.45pm to 6.00pm
Vacation Care:
Available on days classes are not offered and parents require child care.
Additional Programs:
During the fall and spring, after school workshops are available for primary age children. that may include dance, art, science, soccer, cooking, and drama.
Primary Curriculum
Nurturing Emerging Growth
Reading, writing, math, and other cognitive skills are encouraged and developed in this program, as we introduce a number of activities designed to foster both logical reasoning and abstract thinking. However, while we begin to incorporate academic components into each child’s day — with sequential work in the arts, language, math, geography, and the sciences — we do so in such a way that makes learning a joyful experience. Children work both on their own and as parts of small groups, giving them the freedom to explore while teaching them the importance of cooperation.
A Typical Primary Day
A typical day for Primary students begins with a three-hour work cycle in which children choose from among a number of age-appropriate tasks, presented by the teachers, which introduce concepts in math, language, science, or history. Children choosing math might spend time working on multiplication tables or exploring the distributive property of multiplication, while those choosing the language path would begin working with the concepts of grammar or making their first forays into storytelling. Science-oriented tasks might include teacher-supervised experiments that examine principles of zoology or geography, while those working with history may investigate planetary timelines or, in the case of older students, work on research projects pertaining to the ancient civilizations. The goal is to create a sense of focus on the work while logging progress on the various activities.
After cleaning up, the class reconvenes as a group for songs and then has lunch together, complete with soothing music. Once lunch is done, children go out for recess, and once they return indoors the communal dynamic is emphasized through group stories or discussions.
For the remainder of the afternoon, children focus on more elective subjects, including the arts or foreign languages. As is the case with the morning sessions, each child receives individualized support and guidance, in addition to the freedom that comes with self-directed study.