Preprimary (18 months – age 3)

The Preprimary class is an environment prepared to meet the developmental needs of the toddler child. A unique feature of a well-run Montessori classroom is the environment where everything speaks to the child of beauty, simplicity, order and good taste. The age-appropriate work is kept at a child’s eye level and development level.

Sea Pines Montessori Academy provides the child with an enriched selection of tasks enabling him to interact with materials and activities answering his particular needs at his stage of development. Various materials call to him giving a sense of satisfaction as he learns to become more independent in learning. He develops a confidence as he learns how to hang up his own coat, pour his own water and clean up his own spills. A growing conviction of “I can do it” grows within him as he stacks, in order of size, a series of cubes.

A Toddler’s Day
The day begins at 8:30 am with work time. The children come into the classroom and hang their school bags. They may then choose work on their own or in small groups. This time is used for teachers to present new work or to present again work that the child has not yet mastered. Then the child practices work to become proficient. Work time may last between 30 minutes to one hour.

Afterward, during line time, the children meet in a large group by sitting on the red line or “red ellipse” (the shape on the floor). This time is spent greeting the children, singing and listening to stories read by the teacher. This is also the time used to present new unit lessons to the children and to show them where the work will “live” in the classroom. Line time may last between 15 and 30 minutes.

Playground periods last between 20 and 30 minutes depending on the weather and daily schedule. During the warmer months the children often do water work outside. Painting the fence with water, watering the plants, cleaning the windows, or scooping floating corks from a large bowl are a few popular examples.

Some toddler rooms snack before outside time and some after outside time, but the snack is always nutritious. During the week, each class also has special periods of music, art, and Spanish in the classroom.

Napping
Children attending the Preprimary Full Day Program sleep after lunch. The school provides small cots with a sheet and small blanket to make the child comfortable. The child may bring to school a favorite blanket to sleep with. The school launders bedding at the end of each week.

Enrollment Options & Tuition and Fees

No one brings alive the beauty of the Montessori Method better than the children themselves. Please join us for a Campus Tour to see for yourself.