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Children's House Scheduling Options

Full Day Program Hours: approximately 8:10am – 2:40pm

Half Day Program Hours: approximately 8:10am – 12:10pm

Before-School Care: 7:30am

After-School Care: 4:15pm, 5:00pm, or 5:30pm

School Year: August* – June

*At the beginning of the school year, new Children’s House students are phased in over the first two weeks of school. Your child will be assigned a start date sometime in those first two weeks of school.

Additional Summer Programs and After-School Programs are available for enrolled families.

Children’s House Program

For children 3-6 years old

Children find inspiration and satisfaction in learning how the world works. Our rich curriculum brings the world to the child through hands-on, sensory experiences. Students build executive function skills such as concentration, a sense of order, and inner discipline through the opportunity for prolonged, in-depth work. Guides observe each student and introduce new concepts when they are ready, honoring each child’s unique abilities, interests, and sensitive periods.

About our Children’s House Program

Child-centered Classrooms

In the Children’s House classroom, the Guide is trained to observe each individual child. When looking into a Children’s House classroom, you might see the Guide down at your child’s level, individually engaging or working with a small group.

Individualized Curriculum

Your child will be introduced to activities and concepts based upon the Guide’s observations of their developmental needs and readiness. After an initial lesson, the child has the opportunity to come back to the material for independent exploration. The art of being a Montessori teacher is in finding the activity that combines both interest and the right challenge—not too hard and not too easy. In this classroom, your child will become engaged with an activity, developing an increased ability to focus and concentrate.

Independence

We carefully teach your child how to care for their own needs and provide opportunities to practice and improve. From preparing a meal to solving a complex math problem, children are given the opportunity to complete work on their own. When children can successfully care for themselves and the environment in which they live, their demeanor becomes one of self-accomplishment and self-confidence. As we foster this independence, we hear the children begin to say, “I can do it on my own.”

Hands-on Learning Materials

Scientifically designed Montessori materials are made to bridge the gap between tangible and abstract concepts, with built-in fail-safes to allow for independent learning and self-correction. Some of the materials in our Children’s House Program are for:

  • Language – Materials to enrich vocabulary and open the door to writing, reading, and the parts of speech.
  • Mathematics – Materials build on your child’s natural interest in counting and introduce an understanding of the decimal system and the processes of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division in the 3-6 classroom.
  • Art and Self-expression – Montessori materials also encourage artistic self-expression in the classroom.
  • Geography – Globes, flags of the world, and maps are introduced in Children’s House, giving students a greater understanding of the world and cultures around them.
  • Science – Children explore botany, zoology, astronomy, and more through rich hands-on experience in the classroom and the Outdoor Environments.

Throughout the classroom, there are a plethora of materials to choose from – each one with a thoughtful lesson behind it.

Mixed-age Classrooms

Because the learning is individualized, your child can work at their own pace while participating in a mixed-age classroom community. Younger children benefit from example, and learn from the activities of the older children, while each older child gains the self-confidence that comes with responsibility and leadership.

Grace and Courtesy

Through grace and courtesy exercises, we teach children how to appropriately work through conflicts, how to act politely in various situations, and how to be kind and helpful to others. The result is a cohesive and self-aware community of young children.

Socialization and Play

The teacher may invite children to join a group for songs and stories about social, biological, geographical, and historical themes of interest. Your child will have a choice to participate or continue on with their activity. Indoor classroom space extends to a safe and contained outdoor environment with gardens and activities, so your child can work outdoors.

Multi-age Classrooms

Montessori is a continuum of education that allows your child to build upon their experiences each year.

Year One – Age 3

In the first year, the days will be filled with activities centered around Practical Life. These lessons teach independence, concentration, and care of their community. Activities such as learning to sweep the floor, baking bread, and caring for the plants and animals in the classrooms are just a few in the Children’s House classroom. At this age, children also are very interested in categorizing and sorting to make sense of the world around them. Sensorial materials introduce early mathematical concepts to children through activities that help children categorize by auditory, visual, and tactile senses. Language is expanded through vocabulary sound games and real conversations.

Year Two – Age 4

As the child continues, they are introduced to sounds and symbols which lay the groundwork for reading and writing in the future. They begin to learn numbers and the decimal system – with the most amazing concrete materials to show the way. They learn about land and water forms, geometric figures, and the political countries of the world. They learn the parts of plants and animals and about music and art – all at their own pace, in their own time.

Year Three – Kindergarten

It is during the third year (the traditional kindergarten year) that everything comes to fruition for your child. Reading, writing, and mathematical understanding blossom from the many seeds that were planted in the previous two years. The child leaves the program with a strong set of academic skills; but, far more importantly, with the attitude that learning is fun, exciting, and boundless.

Year Four – The Gift

For some children, a fourth year in Children’s House is a special gift. Children who transition to the Children’s House classroom mid-year or children who are attending Montessori for the first time will likely be asked to attend Children’s House for a fourth year. Since the children are met where they are, they will be presented with challenging work, responsibilities, and social interactions that will prepare them for life in Lower Elementary. 

Our Children's House program is something you have to see for yourself.

The Next Level: Lower Elementary

As the children complete their third year in Children’s House, traditionally referred to as the Kindergarten year, they will start to give us signs that they are ready to move up to Lower Elementary. They are eager to ask “Why?” questions and they are ready to learn more about the world around them.

Your child is now ready to transition to Lower Elementary for 1st – 3rd Grade.