Children's House (Primary)
3 – 6 years
Also known as the Primary, our Children's House program is a nurturing and thoughtfully prepared environment where your child builds confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.
A Mixed-Age Community
Children ages 3 to 6 learn together in one classroom. Younger children benefit by observing older peers, while older children grow into leaders—gaining confidence, responsibility, and pride in helping others. This cycle repeats each year, giving children new roles and fresh experiences as they grow.
Learning at Their Own Pace
Rather than follow a one-size-fits-all curriculum, our teachers observe each child’s unique developmental needs and introduce lessons at just the right time. Your child learns through choice, repetition, and exploration, helping them develop real ownership over their education.
A Deep Connection With Their Teacher
Our AMI-certified guides build meaningful relationships with each child over the three-year journey. Rather than leading from the front of the classroom, they work alongside children—quietly observing, guiding, and introducing materials that match each child’s curiosity and readiness.
Beautiful Materials, Hands-On Learning
Children use carefully designed Montessori materials to explore math, language, science, geography, art, and more. These tools bridge the gap between concrete experience and abstract thinking, laying a strong foundation for future academic success.
A Focus on Life Skills
Practical life and “grace and courtesy” lessons teach children how to care for themselves, their environment, and one another. They learn how to tie their shoes, pour water, resolve conflict peacefully, and express kindness—all essential skills for a successful life.
Essential Skills for a Successful Life
The Primary classroom is designed to help your child become his best self. 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.
Kindergarten Included
Montessori is a continuum of education that allows your child to build upon experiences each year. Your child will stay in the Primary classroom for 3 years, including the traditional “kindergarten year” – when the seeds of learning come to fruition. Reading and writing come to life from sounds and symbols. She is introduced to numbers and the decimal system. She learns about geometric figures and the political countries of our world. She leaves the program with a strong set of academic skills; but, far more importantly, with the attitude that learning is fun, exciting and boundless.
Our Primary Program
Primary community – also known as Children’s House- is the stage where children are fairly independent. The classroom environment includes large spectrum of manipulative materials for learning practical life skills, refining sensory discrimination, enhancing language skills, learning mathematics, and learning cultural subjects. Children have a different experience every year as the role based on age and knowledge changes. The teacher is a catalyst stimulating new interests in new carefully chosen concepts and materials and allowing children to explore.
To derive full advantage of basic Montessori foundation, parents choose to complete the year 6 or crossing into 7 (based upon date of birth) and then opt to seek admission in Grade 1 either in public schools or Elementary Montessori.
Exposure to world cultures, cooking, music, dance, art, gardening, exploration of environment and sports is given throughout the Primary program
- Practical life exercises: include care of self, care of environment, and grace and courtesy lessons.
- Sensorial exercises: include development of visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, olfactory, thermic, baric, and stereognostic senses.
- Language: includes development of spoken language, writing, reading, grammar, and creative writing. 2nd language Spanish is knit in the curriculum.
- Mathematics: includes learning numbers and counting with an understanding of the decimal system. Children learn the four major mathematical operations through specially designed pedagogical materials. The materials designed for mathematics serve as a bridge between concrete understanding and abstract realization.
- Cultural Subjects: include the study of geography, history, science, nature, art, and music. This area is offered as a link to life around the world and throughout history.
“I wanted to let you know how happy we are to have chosen Decatur Montessori School as a partner to help Lydia grow and learn in these very important formative years. Lydia simply loves the school and every day we see the benefits of what she is learning and doing.I want to thank the wonderful teachers and staff of Decatur Montessori School for all that they do. For their love and the focused attention that they give to Lydia. Thank you too for working so hard to keep the environment safe for her and free from nut and peanut allergens.”
- Christina M