Pre-Primary
Our Pre-Primary program is for children between the ages of 2 to 3 years and can best be encapsulated by the phrase, “Help me do it myself.”
Pre-Primary Program at a Glance:
-
Ages 2-3 years
-
One classroom of 12 students
-
Head Teacher and Assistant teacher
-
Five Day Program
-
Half Days until noon or full days until 3:00PM
A Beautiful Environment
The young child has a strong sense of order, a great desire for self-direction, and a preference for parallel (side by side) play. The classroom is thoughtfully prepared with this in mind, allowing your child to explore and learn in a secure and loving environment. The furniture and equipment are sized to help foster independence. Activities are attractively displayed on shelves that stimulate and nourish the small child’s need to smell, touch, hear, see and taste.
A Joyful First School Experience
Children in the Acorn Room are filled with joy. Through play, purposeful activity, and deep connections with their peers and teachers, students develop a love and appreciation for school. As their first school experience, this sets the tone for the rest of their educational journey.
The Journey to Independence
Two year olds emulate the adults in their lives and are eager to do things for themselves. “I did it!” is the most commonly heard phrase in the Acorn Room. Real-life activities like washing hands, cleaning the windows, arranging flowers, and baking muffins are an integral part of the Pre-Primary program and are specifically designed to support the physical and cognitive development of the child.
"The child is passionate about learning and becoming the best they can be. The child is asking us to help me to do it myself."
-Laurin abramson, Pre-Primary Head Teacher
Freedom to Explore
Allowing children to make choices in a calm, orderly atmosphere helps build autonomy, concentration and impulse control. The child is allowed to move at their own pace and has the opportunity to repeat an activity until they feel finished. Two year olds are developing a sense of self and take great pride in their accomplishments.
Purposeful Movement
Cognition is firmly tied to movement. Two year olds have an inherent need to move and coordinate their bodies. They have a desire to physically explore the environment—to grasp, carry, pinch and squeeze. Through purposeful movement, their young brains are making sense of the world and building connections at a rapid pace.
Language Development
Two year olds are in a sensitive period for language development. Their vocabularies expand exponentially at this age, as they seek out names for everything in their environments. The Pre-Primary classroom is rich in language, from songs and stories to formal vocabulary lessons.
Natural Playscape
At MdTL, children have ample opportunities for gross motor movement on our spacious natural playscape, where they develop an appreciation for the beauty of the natural world. Children start their day outdoors, which eases their separation from their parent or caregiver. They love to dig, build, run, climb, and jump. They enjoy sand and water play, caring for the plants, and visiting with our school bunny.
First Friends
The Pre-Primary community lays the foundation for life-long friendships. At this age, children begin to form their first friendships all the while learning how to function within a small group setting as they begin to develop patience, impulse control, and empathy.
“Play is the work of the child.”
-Maria Montessori