Toddlers are constantly surrounded with rich and stimulating conversations to support this once-in-a-lifetime period of rapid language development. Toddlers meet for circle time to learn songs, learn to share by talking and listening, and explore literature. By the time our toddlers are ready to move up to the primary classroom, they are fluent in Spanish and ready for more language exposure.

Children are curious by nature. Maria Montessori observed this behavior and created a method of education that works to support the child’s innate curiosity. To that end, she designed a toddler learning environment where the child has the freedom to explore and discover based on their evolving interests. In our classrooms everything is accessible to toddlers. The furniture is the perfect size and height for them to sit in a chair, work at a table, or reach materials without having to ask for help.

The learning materials are also designed with them in mind. They’re easy to manipulate, they’re challenging enough to be educational but not so difficult that they require constant assistance, and they’re self-correcting (the child will know if they have succeeded at their task without having to wait for a teacher to tell them). This makes hands-on learning and play much more accessible.

The teacher’s primary role is to refresh the environment throughout the year with increasingly challenging work. In that sense, the teacher is more of a coach or personal trainer; Montessori actually preferred to call the teachers “guides.”

The Montessori curriculum in the primary classroom:

• Practical Life activities build confidence and independence through the development of self-care skills, concentration, coordination, and a sense of order—all for later learning.
• Sensorial, hands-on materials that engage all of the senses initiate critical thinking skills, preparing students for future challenges in mathematics, science, and language.
• Language nurtures a love of language with manipulatives that build a deep understanding of the fundamental components of reading/writing. The environment is infused with books and a spirit of individual expression.
• Geography & Cultural Studies capture the curiosity of students excited to explore their world.
• Mathematics – from simple to complex, concrete to abstract, unique Montessori materials engage children in learning fundamental concepts that prepare them to approach learning with a mathematical mind.
• Science provides new tools and opens children to a new way of looking at the world around them.

In the aftercare program, children will enjoy a variety of activities, including playing together with puzzles, construction blocks, Legos, magnetiles, a dollhouse, a mud kitchen, trains, trucks, and more. Additionally, they will participate in art projects, gardening, cooking, and occasional walks to the park.

As they engage in these diverse activities, the children will be immersed in a Spanish-speaking environment. Our native Spanish-speaking staff ensures that the children continue to practice and reinforce what they’ve learned in the morning, all while having fun and working on different projects.