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Montessori Preschool

Montessori Preschool

Montessori preschool

In our Montessori preschool classrooms, children thrive in a mixed-age setting, where older students mentor younger peers, and everyone contributes to a supportive, collaborative learning environment. This approach allows us to meet each child where they are, offering flexibility and the ability to adjust to their developmental needs. Working within a three-year span gives us the opportunity to follow a child’s natural development, providing individualized instruction based on their skills and readiness.

 

Stepping Stones (Ages 2.8 years to 3 years)

We offer a special Stepping Stones program for children ages 2.8 to 3, designed as a gentle introduction to the Montessori preschool environment. In this nurturing space, children begin to see themselves as part of a larger community. They learn to transition from parallel play to cooperative play, developing important social and emotional skills. With a small class size, students focus on becoming more independent—caring for their own needs, helping others, and gradually growing into confident, compassionate members of the classroom.

3's to Kindergarten Classroom

In Calhoun's Montessori 3’s through Kindergarten classroom, children thrive in a dynamic, mixed-age environment. They begin to build foundational skills in phonics, math, fine motor development and social citizenship. The Montessori method emphasizes hands-on exploration, with teachers offering individualized lessons tailored to each child’s unique pace and needs. By working at their own level, children develop a deep understanding of their role in the classroom community, learning empathy, cooperation, and responsibility as they grow.

In this supportive environment, children naturally become more self-directed, taking on leadership roles and engaging with more complex academic work. The Montessori approach fosters intrinsic motivation, so learning becomes a joyful pursuit. Every day, your child will feel part of a community, while also building critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They are empowered to discover their unique potential while developing a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.

Montessori Preschool

Lower School Highlights

Lower School assemblies
Assemblies

Assemblies are held regularly and are a special moment of connection for Lower School students, giving them the chance to sing together and learn from their peers.

Lower School field trips
Field Trips

Field trips in the Lower School help bring learning to life and allow students to explore the city (and beyond!) while building community.

Lower School Spanish/Movement class
Spanish/Movement

Lower School students learn Spanish through a kinesthetic approach blending dance and movement. Not only does this make learning fun, but research shows that physical activity helps young children absorb meaning.

Lower School Specials course
Specials

Our Lower School curriculum incorporate studies in STEAM, Spanish, music, art and
physical education.

Lower School STEAM
STEAM

The 85th Street STEAM lab allows students to explore their curiosity while building important skills related to science, technology, engineering, art and math. Project highlights have included coding original video games, building a sustainable city, and programming mini robots.

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

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