The primary classroom is for children aged 3-6 yrs.
In a Montessori school the child is free to move about at will, to talk to others, to work with any equipment he understands, or to ask the teacher to introduce new materials to him. Each child learns at his own pace according to his interests and abilities. Learning is both an individual effort and a cooperative experience. The child begins to develop self discipline through internal order, developed by the external order of the prepared environment. The basic ground rules are few, but they are consistently maintained, for example; a child must always return a piece of equipment to its' proper place before selecting another piece of work. The children are free to pursue their own interests as long as they do not interfere with the rights of another child, nor can they abuse the equipment. However, this does not mean that the child may freely choose work for himself all the time. There will be times when work is mandated, this helps the teacher know when a child has mastered a piece of equipment and is ready to be shown something new. Dr. Montessori truly believed that the only way a child can learn, and use his intelligence, is by using his hands - busy hands, busy mind. We work with the children both individually and in small groups, introducing materials and giving guidance where needed. We evaluate each child on entry to the school, and on several occasions during the school year. This is done in order to help determine the needs of each child, thus aiding us in our preparation of the classroom.As Montessori teachers, our task is always to follow the child’s lead, as Dr. Montessori wrote ‘the child is the father of the man’.
The Montessori primary classroom is a wonderfully happy community, and within it the children are given respect, and given the opportunity to pursue their natural interests.Throughout the school year the children develop great friendships with each other, and they will often help each other learn.Daily responsibilities are an integral part of every school day, and each child has a part in maintaining the neatness of their community.The Primary classroom is the child’s world!