• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • FAQs
  • Calendar
  • Blog
  • Volunteer
  • Fundraising
  • COVID-19
  • Online Learning
  • Big Give 2021
Fort Collins Montessori School

  • ABOUT FCMS
    • Mission, Vision & Values
    • Our Campus
    • Staff
    • Board
    • AMI/USA Member School
    • Committees
    • Fundraising
    • Policies
    • Charter School Contracts
    • Financial Transparency
  • Curriculum
    • Classic Montessori
    • Primary
    • Elementary
    • Before and After School Care
    • Extracurriculars
  • Enrollment
    • Preschool Enrollment
    • K-6th Grade Enrollment
    • Family Handbook
    • Family Directory
    • Tuition & Fees
    • Procare Connect
    • Forms
  • The Montessori Approach
    • About Montessori Education
    • Why Choose Montessori
    • Montessori Research
    • Philosophy
    • Notable Montessorians
    • Links & Videos
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Subscribe to Updates
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Follow On Facebook
    • Follow on Instagram

Primary Level

 

The Montessori Primary Program

Serving children ages 3 through Kindergarten, the Montessori Primary Program strives to be a home away from home for your child. Here, young minds choose their own work from an array of self-teaching materials (or manipulatives) displayed on open shelves. After choosing a “work” from a shelf, the child returns to a dedicated workspace—either a table or a natural fiber mat placed on the floor. Upon completion of the “work,” he or she returns the material to its place on the shelf and the cycle continues.

Over time, children in Primary classrooms exhibit a tremendous ability to apply themselves with a high degree of concentration and focus. As a child becomes accustomed to working in a Montessori environment and community, the child becomes self-disciplined, orderly and focused.

The Absorbent Mind

Children in the Primary Program possess what Dr. Montessori called the Absorbent Mind—the ability to absorb all aspects of one’s culture and environment without effort or fatigue. As an aid to this period of the child’s self-construction, it is common for children to choose materials that are designed to be used by one student at a time. That said, there are also materials that are designed to be explored by two or three children at a time.

The following areas of activity cultivate the child’s adaptation and ability to express and think with clarity:

  • Practical Life: Practical life exercises instill care for self, for others, and for the environment. Activities include many of the tasks children see as part of the daily routine in their home, such as preparing food and washing dishes, along with exercises of grace and courtesy. Through these tasks, children develop muscular coordination, enabling movement and the exploration of their surroundings. They learn to work at a task from beginning to end and develop their powers of control and concentration.
  • Sensorial: Sensorial materials serve as tools for development. Children build cognitive skills and learn to order and classify impressions by touching, seeing, smelling, tasting, listening, and exploring the physical properties of their environment.
  • Language Arts: Language arts development is vital to human development. The Montessori environment is rich in oral language opportunities, allowing the child to experience conversations, stories, and poetry. The sandpaper letters help children link sound and symbol effortlessly, encouraging the development of written expression and reading skills. To further reading development, children are exposed to the study of grammar.
  • Cultural: Cultural activities include an exploration of Geography, Continents, History, Life Sciences, Art, and Music. These topic areas are presented as extensions of the sensorial and language activities. Children learn about people and cultures in other countries with an attitude of respect and admiration. Through familiarity, exploration, and discussion, children develop a reverence for all life. The comprehensive art and music programs give children every opportunity to enjoy a variety of creative activities, as well as gain knowledge of the great masters. Instruction in a foreign language, such as Spanish, may be incorporated within the classroom materials. With the aid of a bi-lingual teacher, instruction in a foreign language may be accomplished daily.
  • Mathematics: Mathematics is foundational in a Montessori primary classroom and activities in this area help children learn and understand the concepts of math concretely through the use of manipulatives. This work helps children internalize mathematical concepts, prepares them for later abstract reasoning  and helps to develop problem-solving capabilities.
  • Peace Education: Peace Education is presented to children across all levels in a Montessori school, and will be described briefly here. Typically peace education is presented as including a) inner peace, b) peace in community (the classroom), c) global peace, and d) peace for the natural world. Conflict resolution skills, listening, communication, respect, and inclusion are modeled extensively for children in all classrooms, regardless of level.

A Typical Primary School Day

7:30 – 8:15 Before Care (if needed)
8:15 – 8:30 Arrival/Drop-Off
8:30 – 11:15 Morning Work Cycle/Snack
11:15 – 11:45 Lunch
12:00 – 1:00 Outdoor Time
12:30 Half Day Dismissal
1:00 – 1:30 Rest Time
1:30 – 3:00 Afternoon Work Cycle
3:00 – 3:15 Dismissal
3:00 – 5:10 After Care (if needed)

 

Primary Sidebar

Contact Us

Phone (970) 631-8612

Email
[email protected]

Address
1109 W Harmony Rd
Fort Collins, CO 80526

he Association Montessori International/USA member school colorado

News & Announcements

  • The Big Give Update
  • FCMS Board Meeting Agenda February 18, 2021
  • The Big Give 2021 Launches!
  • FCMS Board Meeting Agenda January 21, 2021
  • New FCMS Virtual Tour

Footer

Fort Collins Montessori School

1109 W Harmony Road
Fort Collins, CO, 80526
970-631-8612

Email Us

Search Our Site

Quick Links

  • School Blog
  • Procare Connect

Start Receiving News & Announcements

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Contact
  • Employment
  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy

© 2021 Fort Collins Montessori School · Website donated by Road Warrior Creative