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Montessori Program

Montessori program
(preschool–3rd grade)

First developed by Italian physician Maria Montessori in 1907, Montessori education fosters independence, self-esteem, social awareness, empathy, resilience, problem solving, and creative thinking—characteristics that will serve students far beyond school.

Calhoun’s Montessori classrooms are led by certified Montessori teachers and use the materials designed by Maria Montessori to emphasize hands-on learning in different subjects. These materials are very concrete for younger children and become more abstract as children grow older.

 

Stepping Stones (Ages 2.8 years to 3 years)

In Stepping Stones, your child begins to see themself as part of a bigger whole, looking beyond self and family. In a classroom with a small number of students, they learn to be a member of a community. They develop social and emotional skills, from parallel play to cooperative play, from being helped to becoming more independent to care for their own needs, and eventually fulfilling the desire to help and care for others. They also start making meaningful connections with their own lives and school life, as their language development takes off from receptive to expressive language.

Children's House (Ages 3 to Kindergarten)

Children’s House is a time of joyful discovery and making connections. In Children’s House, we honor your child and meet them where they are developmentally through individualized lessons, hands-on exploration, and thoughtful teacher observation—so your child develops and masters skills and concepts in different areas while honing critical thinking and problem solving skills. A Children’s House student is intrinsically motivated to learn because it is a satisfying and joyous pursuit to “work.” Your child becomes part of their classroom community as they learn to care for others, and grace and courtesy are part of daily life.

1st–3rd Grades

In these grades, children transform into social beings driven by their own curiosity. They learn time management and personal organization skills, as they begin to track their own learning in notebooks and folders showing their progression. With support and accountability from their teachers, students have flexibility to pursue topics that excite them while also advancing in all subjects. 

All teachers for Calhoun's Montessori track are AMS (American Montessori Society) certified by MACTE (Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education).

Lower School Curriculum

Lower Schools students are guided by our exceptional faculty toward an understanding of key concepts, so that students are prepared for more abstract thinking.

Explore our curriculum

4th Grade Program

The fourth-grade program focuses on preparing children with the skills and habits for Middle School and beyond. 

Learn about 4th grade