The Primary Classroom

Building Foundations

The foundation of Northwest Montessori School begins in the Primary classroom, known as a children’s house, with 2 1/2- to 6-year-old children. In our carefully prepared environment, children are active explorers who gain mastery over their surroundings and the materials in them.

Montessori materials are specially designed to help children internalize their natural sense of order. Practical life exercises offer the child self-help skills and the development of motor coordination with materials that mimic simple household tasks—pouring, sorting, washing, etc. Sensorial materials, aesthetic and mathematic in nature, assist children in developing precision of movement, sharpening their already heightened sensorial abilities.

The classroom is arranged according to subject area, and children are always free to move around the room. There is no limit to how long a child can work with a piece of material. Children are introduced to the world at large through geography, nature studies, mathematics, cultural diversity and Spanish lessons. Other parts of the classroom are dedicated to art, music and drama.

At any one time in a day, all subject areas are being studied by children of all levels in one classroom. The Primary teacher is trained to present lessons to one child at a time while overseeing the many children who are working on a broad array of tasks. The teacher, through extensive observation and record keeping, plans individual lessons that enable each child to flourish, follow an interest and move to a new level within the three-year curriculum.

Northwest Montessori School offers two programs for primary aged children, 2 ˝ to 6. One Primary program offers a half day, 9 a.m. to noon, for children 2 ˝ to 4. Older children, ages 4 ˝ to 6, may attended for extended day, until 3 p.m., by invitation. The Dawn-to-Dusk, or all-day, program is open for all children from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the school year, including school breaks and offers a summer program. All Primary level programs are five days per week.

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