PRIMARY
Our Montessori and Judaic inspired program offers children a structured environment in which to freely explore all curriculum areas. Our classrooms center around the idea that children are intrinsically motivated to gain independence and connect to their world through the process of learning. The classroom consists of educational materials that provide opportunities for purposeful and fulfilling work. In addition to our rich Judaic curriculum, we continue to foster and nurture children’s social and emotional development in children’s everyday experience.
Our Curriculum
PRACTICAL LIFE
The practical life area is the foundation for learning in a Montessori classroom. Through the practice and mastery of everyday activities like zippering, buttoning, pouring, slicing food, using a spoon, or carrying a tray, children become independent and refine fine and gross motor coordination. More involved activities such as, flower arrangement, cloth washing, and table scrubbing help children understand sequence and lengthen concentration. All of these activities build a sense of order in the child, while building confidence in their ability to complete purposeful and useful work.
SENSORIAL
The sensorial area of the classroom arrives from the idea that nothing exists in the intellect unless it is first experienced through the senses. This area is meant to train and refine those senses, and therefore sharpen their ability to connect with the world around them. Each material in the sensorial area has only one differentiating factor, so the child is able to distinguish sound, texture, color, shape, size, height, smell, taste, temperature, and weight.
MATH
The math area in our classrooms begins with everyday mathematical concept opportunities, such as counting blueberries during snack time or recognizing numbers in the environment! Basic number recognition and counting exercises are the foundation of children’s math journey in our Primary room. Mathematical concepts are formally introduced by manipulating specially designed materials. The materials are presented sequentially, moving from simple to complex and concrete to abstract. In primary-class math can include matching quantity and symbols 1-9, teen, and ten numbers.
LANGUAGE
Language curriculum in the classroom will be introduced sequentially, starting with spoken language. Spoken language in the classroom consists of vocabulary enrichment, storytime, and rhyming games. During this phase, students are also introduced to the written language through phonemic awareness and letter recognition. Children play sound games to distinguish the beginning, middle, and end sounds of a word. Memorization of sound symbols begins through the use of sandpaper letters and works with the movable alphabet. Children, if ready, then move to handwrite. As a part of our Jewish curriculum children in our Primary class will begin their Hebrew literacy journey as well!