The Montessori Academy welcomes children ranging in age from 6 months to 6 years. The primary goal of our programs is to assist each child in developing a sound self-esteem via respect and compassion, facilitating success conducive to healthy maturation and independence. By offering a loving, nurturing, homelike environment, we afford the child the sense of security necessary to comfortably and confidently move on and explore.

Freedom of movement throughout the environment is strongly encouraged, enabling our children to learn through all the senses. As a result of this physically active approach to learning, coordination, balance, and control over movement are also strengthened. Freedom of choice is also encouraged, provided these choices are made and work is performed within clearly defined limits--limits that fall within the boundaries of:

• Respect for one's self.
• Respect for other individuals.
• Respect for the environment and all that it contains.
• In summary, greater respect for our world!

Emphasis in the environment is placed on a trusting, collaborative relationship between teacher and parent in the whole care-giving and educational process in order to insure the development of a healthy personality and the fulfillment of the individual spirit of the child.

Infant Program
(6 months - 18 months)

Our Infant program is a very special program designed to afford our infants security and warmth essential to bonding and establishing a loving relationship of trust and overall comfort. Our Infant teachers are specially educated in this very delicate period of development, with a keen sense of the physical and emotional needs and tendencies of our babies.

Our Infant environments are prepared to be as homelike and nurturing as possible, with areas that support the infant's strong, natural desire for movement and exploration. The program is rich in language and sensory-motor stimulation to enhance overall cognitive, as well as physical development, which is rapid during this very critical period.

Our Infant teachers work very closely with parents, as partners, in all areas of Infant care and as an on-going resource in all areas of parental needs.

Pre-Primary Program
18-month - to 3-year-old children

Our Pre-Primary environments are meticulously and aesthetically designed to accomodate the young child's keen desire and appreciation for order and beauty. Furniture is child-sized to afford comfort and display an attractive array of developmentally appropriate mateirals and activities within easy reach to facilitate independence.

Areas of concentration in the Pre-Primary program include:

• Development of large and small motor skills
• Self-sufficiency
• Sensory experiences and discrimination
• Language
• Practical living and social skills

Creative movement, music and art are integrated throughout the program curriculum.

Special visits are arranged for this age group in lieu of field trips, providing a variety of nature and world experiences.

Primary
2 1/2- to 6-year-old children

As the children grow, so do the environments--with slightly larger furniture and more fully stocked shelving and activity areas. Primary curriculum encompasses the areas of:

• Practical living skills
• Language arts
• Mathematics
• Nature studies
• Science
• Geography

Once again, creative movement, music and art are integrated throughout the program curriculum. Field visits are scheduled throughout the course of the year to support areas of study.