A primary students works with the brown stair while kneeling on a rug.

Primary Program

Children ages 3 to 6 years old

The Primary program is a gift to your developing child. Classrooms designed for children ages 3 to 6 years old nurture their individual development within a group setting. The result? Self-confidence, joy, and a lifelong love for learning.

Each object in the Primary classroom has a purpose. The scientifically designed Montessori materials are tailored to match the steps along each child's developmental path. Through continued use, they develop concrete understanding of abstract concepts, such as mathematics; this provides a solid foundation for future learning.

Child-Centered Classrooms

In a Montessori classroom, the teacher is trained to closely observe your child’s interests, tendencies, and needs. You won’t see the teacher standing at the front of the classroom at a chalkboard, but rather down at your child’s level, engaged with them or a small group. Children are introduced to a broad range of concepts and activities in individual and small group lessons. The mastery of those lessons occurs through independent activity: when children choose the materials to explore, repeat, and perfect.

The Montessori teacher works to perfect the classroom environment. Within it, your child works to perfect themselves. Our teachers put tremendous care and attention to detail into the classroom with low shelves, beautiful artwork, books and cultural items of interest to pique your child’s interest and stimulate his senses. The children respond by developing a sense of classroom ownership and a drive to care for it, further deepening the bonds of the community and their quest to learn.

Individualized Education

Each Arbor teacher is trained to respect your child’s unique potential and connects them with the lesson best suited at that precise moment of development. Your child will be challenged according to their ability, not to a generic standard. The curriculum emphasizes learning through all five senses. Lessons are primarily presented through the use of Montessori materials and exercises. Children learn all aspects of language including spoken language, writing, and reading. Their math work progresses from the concrete to abstract as they gain a deep understanding of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and experience geometry. Other areas of the curriculum include practical life (including dressing, gardening, and food preparation), Spanish, botany, zoology, and cultural and environmental appreciation.

Because the curriculum is individualized, your child can work at his or her own pace while participating in a mixed age classroom community. Your younger child learns by observing the behavior & activities of the older children. Your older child gains self-confidence, leadership skills, & responsibility by setting an example for her younger friends.

Developing Social Skills

While most of the day is spent in self-directed work, there are also times for group activity and play. The teacher may gather a group for songs or to tell stories about a cultural, scientific or historical theme of interest. Ample time is also given to run, dig, explore and play with friends outdoors. Through “grace and courtesy” activities, we teach your child how to solve conflicts, how to act politely in social situations and how to be kind and helpful to friends.

Sensorial Learning

Young children learn through their senses: touching, tasting, listening. Materials in the Primary classroom let children explore and put names to a variety of sensations: size, color, shape, texture, scent, sound, and more. Children take pleasure in games of organization: sorting or ordering objects, counting beads, etc. Other activities provide physical, tangible introductions to the mechanics of language or to concepts of numbers.

The Cycle of Mastery

Montessori education occurs in three year cycles. Each child spends three years in the Primary classroom, including the traditional kindergarten year: when the seeds of learning come to fruition. Reading and writing come to life from sounds and symbols. They are introduced to numbers and the decimal system. They learn about geometric figures and the political countries of our world. They leave the program with a strong set of academic skills; more importantly, they leave with the attitude that learning is fun, exciting and boundless.

Focus & Concentration

Research shows Montessori students develop stronger ability for focus. When you visit a Montessori classroom, with its uninterrupted three-hour work periods, harmonious and organized environments, and the intentional use of hands-on, challenging activities, it becomes easy to guess why. Nature-rich, beautiful outdoor environments also enliven children’s imaginations and calm their nervous systems. In today’s highly distracted world, Montessori classrooms develop the invaluable skills we need most: concentration and focus.

What's Next?

Children who have developed academic skills, an inquisitive mind, a confident manner, and a strong work ethic in Primary are ready to move on to Arbor’s Elementary program, for ages 6 to 12 years old.

Inquire for Primary

Explore Elementary

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