Primary (Ages 2.7 - 5)
The senses, being explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge.
- Dr. Maria Montessori
The Montessori Classroom
Walden’s Primary Program offers children ages 2 years 7 months to 5 years old a safe, nurturing, and thoughtfully prepared environment to begin their educational journey.
In a Montessori Primary classroom, children grow from novices to leaders over three years, returning each year to the same classroom, familiar peers, and consistent teachers. This continuity allows them to mature, integrate new skills, and fully explore the Montessori curriculum, uniquely tailored to their interests and abilities.
All children have a natural love of learning. Walden nurtures that love by giving each child the confidence to take on the many challenges that life presents while readying them for their next educational experience.
Children at Walden explore the environment with beautifully designed hands-on Montessori materials. Beginning with lessons such as pouring, buttoning, and sweeping which helps them develop fine and gross motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. In their second year, as apprentices, lessons progress to counting and phonemic awareness as their concentration, decision-making, and ability to follow sequential steps increases. During their Kindergarten year, children internalize and reinforce their earlier experiences as they master more advanced math, reading, and writing skills.
Why Stay for K?
Reasoning Behind the Three-Year Cycle
Children in a Montessori classroom begin as novice learners and, by remaining in the program through the third year, grow into confident leaders. Returning to the same familiar classroom, peers, and teachers for three consecutive years provides stability and continuity, allowing them to mature and synthesize the skills they have steadily built since starting at Walden. This extended cycle will enable them to explore the full scope of the Montessori curriculum for ages 3–6 while also following their individual interests and honing specific skill sets. By the time they reach their final year in the Primary program, they are not only mastering academic and social skills but also modeling independence, responsibility, and leadership for younger classmates.
CLICK HERE to see a slideshow about the benefits of the three-year cycle.
The Primary Program at Walden
THE PRESCHOOL YEARS
Year 1 and Year 2
At Walden, learning is hands-on. Dr. Maria Montessori believed in this, and modern research has confirmed that movement and learning are deeply connected. Guided by two-experienced Montessori teachers in each class, our rooms are vertically grouped by age, fostering a strong sense of community and peer learning.
In our prepared classrooms, children engage with specially designed materials that encourage exploration and stimulate the senses, helping them learn by doing. Each child chooses activities that match their interests and abilities, promoting independence, responsibility, and a love of learning. This approach nurtures motivation, supports focused attention, and builds confidence as children tackle meaningful challenges at their own pace.
During these formative years, children in the Montessori Primary classroom develop critical thinking skills and cognitive flexibility. They build the foundation for lifelong learning through repetition, problem-solving, and mastery.For our youngest learners, we also offer an introductory classroom for children 2 years and 7 months old by September 1st. This class serves as a gentle transition, preparing them for the traditional Montessori preschool experience the following year.
THE KINDERGARTEN YEAR
Year 3: A Time of Growth and Leadership
The third year in our Primary Program, Kindergarten, is a pivotal time for students. This is a year of independence, leadership, and transition, where children step into the role of peer leader and role model for the younger students in their classroom. They take on more responsibility, planning and preparing their work throughout the day with increasing autonomy.
As the oldest in the classroom, Kindergarten students are called upon by both teachers and peers to lend a hand, offer advice, or solve problems, building their confidence and self-efficacy. They model empathy, collaboration, and perseverance, becoming trusted role models in their community.
In a Montessori classroom, kindergarten is a year of privilege as students are the masters in the classroom. Kindergarteners at Walden have the unique opportunity to visit and participate in activities with 1st and 2nd-grade students, providing a bridge to their future learning environment. During this year, they become more engaged in collaborative work and take on larger, more complex projects that challenge their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
What the Evidence Says About Montessori Education
From Psychology Today: New Research Compares Montessori and Traditional Schools.
Montessori students demonstrated stronger language and math skills, better executive function, and a more positive school experience than those in conventional classrooms
CLICK HERE to read the Psychology Today article.