Cedar Park Montessori School

Curriculum | Toddler | Primary | Elementary | Enrichment Programs

CURRICULUM

Dr. Montessori recognized that all people undergo successive and predictable stages of development throughout their lives. Therefore, the learning environment must be adequately set up to address and respond to the child’s changing needs from infancy to maturity. Our school provides the opportunity for the child to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills that foster a love for learning, human values and responsibilities for him/herself and the environment around him/her.

TODDLER - "I AM AN EXPLORER"

Half day: 8:00 AM – 12 Noon • Full day: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM

The Toddler Class consists of children 18 months to 3 years of age. Toddlers possess a wonderful desire to explore their environment. Everything they experience they must observe, touch, hear and say. Our Toddler Community is a loving and caring extension of the child’s home environment, which enables and encourages the free and comfortable the exploration essential to this age. It is also Pre-Primary class in which children learn the basic classroom rules such as receiving a lesson, working at a table, using a floor mat to work, eating and potty training. Children become independent by learning many practical life skills such as putting their shoes on, wiping a spill, pouring water, etc. Essentially, once a child starts in this class, transitioning into the Primary class is fairly simple and easy.

PRIMARY - "HELP ME TO DO IT MYSELF"

Half day: 8:00 AM – 12 Noon • Extended day: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM • All Day: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Dr. Montessori wrote, “The most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six. For that is the time when man’s intelligence itself, his greatest implement, is being formed. But not only his intelligence; the full totality of his psychic powers.... At no other age has the child greater need of an intelligent help, and any obstacle that impedes his creative work will lesson the chance he has of achieving perfection.” - The Absorbent Mind

The Primary Class consists of children ages 3 years to 6 years (this includes Kindergarten students). In this classroom children learn a variety of curriculum areas such as Language, Math, Geography, Science, Music, Art, Social Studies, Cultural, Botany, etc. Essentially this program prepares the child in a foundation that is solid in the required areas for future learning.

Each lesson is introduced by the Lead Teacher on a one-on-one basis. Therefore, depending on the abilities of the child he/she is introduced to the proceeding lesson. The classroom is carefully prepared in such way so as to promote creative learning, socialization, self guided studies and independence. Each lesson invites the child to work at his/her own pace until the work is completed satisfactorily.

ELEMENTARY - "HELP ME TO KNOW 'WHY?... WHY?... WHY?...'"

Extended day: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM • All Day: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

The Elementary Level consists of children ages 6 to 12 years (this is a classroom of 1st graders through 5th graders). This is a period of time where children have an appetite to learn beyond what they see in front of them. Children want to transcend the concrete and begin to use their imagination as one of the most powerful tools for learning. Students at this age begin to question deeper the world around them, with great focus on nature and society. The concepts and studies are extended with some primary materials as well as new materials.

In order to spark their imagination, lessons are given in small groups for the areas of language, math, geography, science, history, biology, music, art, field trips. Other extended areas of learning include, geometry, government, and sociology which are not separated into separate subjects but all are integrated into the whole curriculum.The children also learn good study habits such as record keeping, time management, taking responsibility for behavior and studies. In addition to class work, students engage in various Community Service Projects throughout the year.

Elementary Class curriculum conforms to the State guidelines for each grade level.

ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS

The following programs are extra-curricular and offered after school:
• Foreign Language - Spanish
• Computer classes
• Art
• Piano
• Ballet and Tap
• Girls Scouts – Brownies (for girls 6 years of and older) and Daisies (for girls 5 years of age)
• Soccer Shots
• Money Club