Elementary

Our Elementary Montessori Program exposes children to the workings of the universe, from the big bang to the intricate web of life on earth. We ignite their imaginations with factual, dramatic stories and scientific demonstrations, giving them a thorough basic framework for understanding the sciences, including botany, zoology, chemistry, physics and earth science. We explore the ways people lived throughout history, including prehistoric peoples, Egyptians, Greeks, and people of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. After being exposed to this whole exciting world through science and history, the children are invited to do follow-up work, researching their personal interests. For example, a child who loves political geography may memorize all the countries of Europe, while another pair of children may work on a report of the evolution of mammals.

In addition to this “cosmic curriculum” (as Montessori called it), the children learn mathematical operations through brilliantly designed hands-on materials. We cover all of the basic requirements that are a part of the Texas academic standards, and then go beyond these in areas such as geometry and advanced mathematical operations. Because the children are allowed to advance at their own pace in all areas, a child may fly through the assimilation of some concepts and need to spend more time on others. This way, children experience learning as moving from one level of mastery to another, thus developing a positive and healthy view of themselves as learners. Children progress through the curriculum through a combination of student record keeping and teacher observation, evaluation, and record keeping. This ensures that all academic goals are met.

In our language program children engage in teacher-lead, small reading groups every day, as well as individual reading. Writing is a daily experience, and in addition, writers’ workshops are presented two to three times a week. Basic grammar is presented through the study of words, parts of speech, and sentence analysis. Children also learn spelling with an individualized program.

In our extra-curricular classes experts from the community are brought in to teach art, Spanish, physical education, and gardening. For example, the children vigorously and joyfully participate in physical education every morning, and they enjoy Spanish two to three times a week.

Primary Program

Our Primary Montessori Program is designed with the knowledge that the child entering the early childhood classroom is already well equipped for learning, having mastered her native tongue and the skills of physical independence. The child’s absorbent mind has reached a conscious state of being, and she is now ready to intellectually investigate her surroundings. We believe that every child deserves to have an exceptionally planned and prepared learning environment, precisely intended to aid in the child’s self-construction.

Our Montessori curriculum includes a wide range of interconnected, age-appropriate learning materials in the areas of Practical Life, Language, Mathematics, Science, Geography, Culture, and the Arts. Each Montessori lesson is specifically designed to isolate a particular concept and to facilitate the skills of order, concentration, coordination, and independence. Hands-on, self-correcting materials allow the child to repeat and refine her abilities to ensure her future success.

The role of the teacher is to prepare the environment and acts as a guide: to know, follow, and lead each child on her journey through discovery. In our program, the Montessori guide is an observer, stepping in only when a child is ready for her next step. The goal is to guide the child toward independent mastery. “Help me to help myself,” is the universal child’s motto.

Curriculum lessons are given individually or in small group settings, while more general lessons, such as Grace and Courtesy and Problem Solving Strategies, are given as part of the children’s daily community gatherings. The child has freedom, within reasonable boundaries, to explore the opportunities of her classroom. The child is free to select the work that she most desires and to repeat it as often as her need is alive to do so. In a non-competitive atmosphere, where the children often choose to work together, each child is honored as an individual. We acknowledge that every child has her very own learning style and pace in which she most comfortably incarnates her experiences.

Primavera’s multi-age classrooms provide a setting that allows the older, more established, students to be community leaders and role models, giving lessons on concepts they, themselves, have recently mastered. While, at the same time, the younger students are given the gift of seeing where they, too, are headed in their own future. This arrangement empowers the children to become positive members of their community and helps to build their confidence as peacemakers. The multi-age classroom gives each child the opportunity to grow in the familiarity of her very own community.

Young Children’s Community

Our young children's program is designed with the understanding that the young child at this age is becoming an increasingly capable person. He is ready to expand his social realm and put his budding motor skills to good use. Making choices for himself and learning to use his body with intention are the essence of his being.

The 18 month old person needs a safe, orderly, and developmentally compatible environment in which to explore. Within our Montessori classrooms, the child of two is given many opportunities to learn skills that he will take with him into his future. The basic concepts of Practical Life, including doing for one’s self, caring for others, and tending to one’s surroundings, are a part of the daily experience at school. The child is free to choose and repeat a work, again and again, to satiate his need for refining a particular skill.

Friendships begin to bud with the expansion of the child’s ability to share what he is doing and deliberately interact with others. Learning to become a helpful friend is a primary focus of our Toddler community. Primavera’s low teacher-to-child ratio ensures that each child will receive the loving support and guidance that is necessary for him to truly thrive.

"Ah! all those who love children must fight in this deadly war, and struggle for peace"..…Maria Montessori