Opening August 2026 at Saint Mark Episcopal.
Our new Primary classroom, led by an AMI-trained guide — twelve seats, three-year cycle, designed for families committed to authentic Montessori from age three through kindergarten.
Why ages 3–6 share one classroom.
Maria Montessori designed Primary as a three-year journey. Mixed-age classrooms let children learn from one another — younger children are inspired by older ones; older children consolidate knowledge by mentoring.
Discovering the environment
Children meet the materials, build independence in practical life, and develop the foundations of order and concentration.
Mastery and language
Reading and writing emerge. Children dive deep into mathematics with concrete materials. Geography, botany, and zoology open up.
Synthesis & leadership
The kindergarten year is when Montessori does its deepest work. Children consolidate, teach, and become natural leaders in the classroom.
A typical day in the Primary Classroom.
- 018:00–8:30Arrival
A warm welcome and individual greeting.
- 028:30–11:30Three-hour work cycle
The signature of Montessori Primary — uninterrupted, self-directed work.
- 0311:30–12:30Outdoor play
Outdoor play at our Toddler Community's playground or a nearby Capitol Hill park.
- 0412:30Half-day dismissal
Half-day families pick up here. Full-day children continue with the afternoon.
- 051:00–1:30Lunch
Children prepare, serve, and share a family-style lunch together.
- 061:30–3:30Afternoon work cycle
Group lessons, projects, and continued exploration. Children under 3 rest and nap in the Primary room from 1:30 to 3:00.
Materials & curriculum at the Primary stage.
Practical Life
- · Care of person and environment
- · Grace and courtesy
- · Food preparation, gardening
Sensorial
- · Geometric solids and the binomial cube
- · Color tablets, sound cylinders
- · Algebraic concepts via sensorial work
Language
- · Sandpaper letters, moveable alphabet
- · Reading and grammar boxes
- · Storytelling and writing
Mathematics
- · Number rods, golden bead material
- · Stamp game, multiplication chains
- · Fractions and the decimal system
Cultural
- · Geography puzzles & globes
- · Botany and zoology classification
- · History timelines
Art & Music
- · Drawing, painting, modeling
- · Singing, instruments, listening
Tuition rates vary based on our program schedules.
Please reach out to us directly and indicate the programs you are interested in to receive more information regarding rates & pricing.