Programs
Primary
The next three years
The Montessori Primary program takes what children have learned in the first three years of life, and springboards them into even more independence, collective learning, and confidence in their own abilities.
What to Expect
Our Program's Unique Features
Centering the child
Montessori teachers are trained to closely observe individual children and match the materials in the environment to their unique needs. This means a classroom changes and grows as the children change and grow, from month to month and from year to year.
Montessori teachers spend most of their time on the floor or in child-sized chairs, meeting the child where they are, both literally and academically. Lessons are presented as a child shows readiness, and children are always encouraged to observe and collaborate with other children to learn.
The mixed-age classroom
Because the curriculum is individualized, children can work at their own pace while participating in a mixed age classroom community. Younger children learn by observing the behavior and activities of the older children. Older children gain self-confidence, leadership skills and responsibility by setting an example for younger friends. When each child can pick what they are interested in today, this week, or this month, they direct their own education in a powerful way. At the same time, they develop their own independence, assessment of difficulty, and learning approach. We encourage each child to move and learn at their own pace because we know that learning is not linear, and that children are not ready to learn specific skills according to an adult-prepared timeline. Both children who need more support and those who are ready to dash ahead are able to find the right level of challenge they crave.
The Gift of Choice
Children are introduced to a broad range of concepts and activities in individual and small group lessons. Lessons are given to the classroom as a whole, individuals as they are ready, and small groups who want to learn together. Children solidify their learning as they choose to explore the materials, repeat the lessons, and master the concepts.
Hands-On Materials
Scientifically designed Montessori materials and careful teacher observation help your child learn through hands-on use and exploration. Through continued use of the same materials over months and even years, children develop a concrete understanding of abstract concepts, such as mathematics, science, and reading, providing a solid foundation for learning into the future.
Work and play
The Montessori approach calls all activities the children do in the classroom work, because learning is the work of the child. However, children regard what they do as play, and for happy children, work is play. Happy students sing, dance, and tell stories even as they count, draw, and match.
Outside, children continue to learn and work, but this time learning uses more gross motor skills. Children’s outdoor play might involve climbing, watering plants, or negotiating turns on a bicycle. Important work for young children also includes dramatic play, practicing all the skills they see adults around them use every day.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Our children always have innovative ideas for how to solve problems, learn new things, and even how to paint and we respect and support their creativity. We encourage our children to always be open to new experiences, and children not only learn math, reading, and problem-solving, they also learn how to care for each other, be good friends, learn from older children, and teach younger children.
Kindergarten Included
Montessori is a continuum of education that allows your child to build upon experiences each year. Children can stay in the Primary classroom for 3 years, including the traditional “kindergarten year” at age 5, when the seeds of early learning come to fruition. Reading and writing come to life from sounds and symbols. Children master the decimal system, geometric solids, and the political countries of our world. They learn grammar, leadership skills, and the history of the universe. They leave the program with a strong set of academic skills, but, far more importantly, with the attitude that learning is fun, exciting, and boundless.
What People are Saying
Parent Review
"Our two daughters attended Oakland Montessori from ages 2-4 and had a wonderful experience. They loved their teachers and learned a lot, growing more confident and independent through the Montessori method. Not only was OMS an ideal learning environment for our children, but it's also only a block away from Dimond Park, which became the destination for many afterschool playdates. We're sure as our daughters grow older they will have many magical memories of their time at Oakland Montessori."
— Kevin W.