The curriculum in the Primary classrooms  supports  the natural ability of 2 1/2 -5 year old children  to absorb  a wealth of information and refine their senses. The children receive individual lessons in language arts, math, geometry, culture and biology as well as guidance on care of self and care of the environment. Their learning environment fosters the development of independence, concentration and respect in a way that traditional education does not.

The youngest children in the classroom benefit from the  examples of the older children. As leaders in their classroom community, the 5 yr olds have the opportunity to share their knowledge with their younger peers.

Students that are under the age of 5 have the option of a half day programs that ends at 11:30 or transitioning  to our pm childcare program for the afternoon. 

Kindergarten-aged children remain with the Montessori teacher until 2:30 for more group-oriented lessons and activities as they prepare to enter the elementary program the following fall.

​

In the Lower Elementary, grades 1-3, the work that was begun in the Primary and Extended Day program continues but now the child has learned to reason and enjoys a more social environment.

Our learning environment not only provides  small group lessons on all acadmeic areas  but also supports the social and moral development of the children by allowing them to move about in the classroom and collaborate with their peers.  Many of the lessons appeal to the imagination of the child and their desire to explore the universe.  Their classrooms are filled with Montessori materials that allow them to work with introduced concepts in a concrete manner and move to the abstraction at their own pace.  These three years in lower elementary continue to lay a concrete foundation in language arts, math, geometry, social studies, science, art, spanish, and music. Limited use of technology for research on interest-based projects is also introduced at this level.

In the Upper Elementary classroom ( ages 9-12yrs.),  the children have developed the skills for in-depth projects and have a greater ability to collaborate with other students. They enjoy lessons in larger groups, participate in literature groups  and partake in more community outings. 

They enjoy preparing meals in their classroom kitchen and caring  for out door spaces as well as interacting with the children in the younger grades as reading buddies or mentors. They continue to receive Montessori lessons across all academic areas from two main classroom teachers and also work with specialists in art gym, and Spanish. 

​

​

 

The Adolescent program  is a community of  7th and 8th grade students who work cooperatively and experience a higher level of freedom coupled with a greater sense of responsibility. Their environment is a non-competitive setting where “real work” is as much a part of the curriculum as academic subject areas. 

 

The students enjoy their work in the greenhouse and the nature center.  They grow, raise and sell seedlings and plants. They spend time at the Root River for river testing and monitoring in the fall and spring and they volunteer their time in the community in such places as the Eco-Justice Center and the H.A.L.O. homeless shelter. 

 

Two main teachers guide their  academic learning where these students can advance as far as they are able in math, algebra, geometry, languages and the sciences. They also have specialists in art, Spanish, and gym.  

Our on-site child-care program allows our 3 and 4 year olds the option of  stayibng in an inviting Montessori community for a full day as providing our older students with  after school care when needed. Our AM child-care begins at 7 am and our PM care begins at 11:30 am.  

 

3 and 4 year old students transition to this loving and fun environment at 11:30 just in time to have  lunch  with their peers. Lunch is followed by a short, restful storytime. Those children who do not fall asleep will then be guided to quiet activities while other children nap.

Our PM child-care program incorporates as much outdoor time as possible and stays open until 5:30pm