Pre-Primary

Dr. Maria Montessori believed that the first three years of life are the most fundamental in the development of human beings and their potential.  The Pre-Primary environment is a nurturing place for children to begin their schooling experience. Children at this age are ready for many hands on experiences that engage them in all areas of learning. Children at this age most often work along side one another in this carefully prepared environment that encourages independence and concentration. Children also learn to respect themselves, their classmates, and the materials in the room. Self care and gross and fine motor development is a large part of the class experience.

Our Montessori Pre-Primary experience engages the youngest members of our community in many curriculum areas around the room including practical life, science, art, work with numbers, and many language based activities including early reading and writing skills. Each day there are circle times devoted to singing and movement, the introduction of new materials, games, story time, and other group experiences. A healthy group snack is provided by parents.

Children in our Pre-Primary class are ready for lessons and limit setting. As two to three year olds, they are beginning to have command of their language and ready for many problem solving experiences and opportunities that allow them to learn the results of cause and effect situations. In our carefully prepared classrooms students learn about the real world through experimentation and exploration of the many hands on materials which are available on the classroom shelves.

These materials are often ones that children have not seen before and therefore are visually appealing, colorful, great to handle, engaging, filled often with multiple lessons, and peak children’s curiosity. Montessori materials and lessons are presented in an attractive, inviting manner. Teacher directions are usually visual or verbally direct and simple to ensure success. Throughout the year, many opportunities for repetition are encouraged. As new concepts are introduced, material presentations progress in difficulty. The classroom evolves with the child and his or her developmental readiness.

Children in our Pre-Primary classroom become familiar with our entire school community through cross programming activities, class visits, and all school assemblies.

Our school’s Head Teacher is a Montessori trained Toddler Teacher and is certified by the American Montessori Society. Our classroom assistant is experienced and has worked with young children.

Two years old through Three years old

Children enrolled in this classroom must two years old by September.

Classes are held:

3 Day class: 8:30 am to 11:30am Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

2 Day class: 8:30am to 11:30am Thursday, Friday

5 Day class: 8:30am to 11:30am Monday – Friday

Primary Program

Children in our Primary classes are welcomed each day into a room designed specifically for this age group. In this natural setting of mixed aged groupings, children readily learn from one another. Younger children observe and learn from older children and older children’s learning is reinforced as they benefit from the opportunity to share what they know. This complimentary partnership challenges everyone in the room to do their best. Kindness, sharing, respect for yourself, one another, and the materials are daily lessons in the Primary classroom. Attention is paid not only to the child’s academic ability, but also to their social, emotional, and physical development.  At Merrimack Montessori School our focus in on educating the whole child.

Merrimack Montessori Primary classes offer a challenging and enriching curriculum focusing on mathematics, language and reading, sensorial training, cultural and science topics such as geography, botany, and zoology, and the development of independence, coordination, and concentration.  Students experience a structured routine, but within that routine they have the freedom to choose their own activities and pace themselves. Each classroom routine also includes a circle time for group lessons, singing, movement, story time and the introduction of new materials. Children also have an opportunity to select a snack partner and share the healthy snack which is provided by parents. The day also includes an outdoor time where games, free play, and nature walks are enjoyed in many areas around the school grounds and on the play ground.

Children in the Primary classroom quickly learn there are many interesting materials which are beautifully displayed on shelves at eye level that beckon for them to reach out and touch. These purposefully designed materials build conceptual understanding from the concrete to the abstract. This groundwork is critical for real understanding about how language, math and science concepts work. Children’s thinking is encouraged through questioning, their interests are peaked, and their natural love of learning is nurtured in this safe and welcoming environment.

Children are given lessons in small groups or individually and presented lessons using the many manipulative materials that provoke children’s interests and discovery of the concept by the child. Teacher observation is key in providing lessons to children when they are most ready to make the step in learning. These concrete materials are not only often self correcting, but they allow children to learn from making mistakes and encourage them to try again another way. Their learning and discovery is often quite visible.

Montessori materials and many lessons often utilize all five senses. Materials and placement of materials are designed to encourage children to listen, look, touch, and move. As the child’s day progresses they are often be observed working for longer and longer periods of time increasing their concentration – one of the greatest tools needed for learning. Our Montessori teachers guide each child through the natural progression of materials by giving lessons in the order that ensures appropriate development. Children often learn to ask more “challenging work” as they have learned from their successes!

Three years to 6 year olds (including Kindergarten)

Children in these classes must be three by September

Classes are held:

Half Day Morning class: 8:30am -11:30am

Half Day Afternoon class:  12:30pm -3:30pm

Primary and Kindergarten: Full Day 8:30am – 3:30pm

Five Half days and three afternoons:

8:30am – 11:30am

Tues, Wed, Thurs full days: 8:30am – 3:30pm

Three Year old Three Afternoon 12:30pm – 3:30pm (limited seating available)

Elementary Program

The Elementary Program at Merrimack Montessori School combines mixed age groups of students in a classroom that is often like a one room school house. Once again you will witness children working independently and in small groups. Students in elementary often learn at differing rates and employ a variety of learning strategies and are given lessons tailored to take this into account. Our teachers endeavor to truly educate, by drawing out the discovery of concepts and information, rather than lecturing to their students. The emphasis is placed on the process of learning, rather than the product. We encourage independent thinking and each student’s unique curiosity about learning. We strive to create opportunities in and out of the classroom where students can learn the skills needed to be a good problem solver and to learn how to learn.

The Montessori curriculum is integrated and provides students with a muti-faceted view of how strands of thinking in cultural studies of a country for example can be learned through art, science, reading stories, writing, and even theatre. Often in a Montessori Elementary classroom you will find materials that demonstrate a “whole to parts” understanding of a concept. Students in an elementary class are engaged in their discovery of conceptual understanding. Informal and formal assessments are made of each student’s learning not only by the teacher but often by the student. Students will often share their learning through art, plays, writings, songs, and visual demonstrations.

Lessons are given to the whole class, small groups and individually. During the elementary years, student will continue to use the Montessori manipulative materials, however, they are now moving from concrete to abstract reasoning. When students are ready they will move away from using the materials and do more abstract writing and record keeping.

Students in our elementary classroom are expected to become increasingly responsible for their own work schedule. Continued joy in learning, inner discipline, organization of time, respect for self and others, and appropriate participation in the community of the classroom, the whole school community and in the greater community are benchmarks of success for the elementary aged student.

Students at Merrimack Montessori not only learn in the classroom, but often become involved in community based projects of service. Classroom outings provide a rich compliment to in class learning. As students in elementary are asking more questions and looking out into the world for answers and understanding it is the perfect time to take their learning into the field.

Students in our Montessori Elementary classroom are well prepared to be contributing members in other educational settings when they plan to leave the school. Their preparation for learning has included high standards for performance in math, language arts and reading, cultural studies, the sciences, and the arts. At Merrimack Montessori we are focused on helping each student reach their highest level of potential in academics as well as in their physical and social development. We strive to help each student feel confident, articulate, friendly, self assured and ready for their next challenge in learning.

Six years to nine year olds.

Classes are held: Monday through Friday 8:15 am to 3:30 pm