Pre-Primary

Program Overview

What to Expect at Bozeman Montessori Pre-Primary

Once children are comfortably walking, the world starts to really open up for them in exciting ways! The reason we don’t call this the Toddler environment is because one of the signs of readiness for Pre-Primary is that toddling is over — they are walking well and ready to explore. This environment includes opportunities for bigger movement, a loft to access with stairs, a quiet space to cozy into, and other home-like features like a food and eating area, a self-care area where toilet learning is encouraged, low sinks for handwashing, and care of the environment areas with small cleaning supplies.

Pre-Primary Food Program

For children 12 months and older, we offer a Healthy Food Program at Bozeman Montessori. We provide morning snack, lunch (served with the option of milk or water), and afternoon snack, in order to serve the needs of busy families, and to bring to life Maria Montessori’s original vision.

• The Food Program is included in the cost of tuition
• Menus are reviews by a registered dietitian and nutritionist
• Menus include whole foods and new tastes and textures as young children begin to develop their palate
• In the summer months, we utilize vegetables and herbs from our own gardens

We invite the children’s engagement with the process of growing, preparing, and serving food, whenever possible. 

Example Snack Menus

• Ants on a log: Celery, cream cheese or peanut butter and raisins
• Crackers with cheese and fresh fruit
• Steamed carrots, bell peppers and yogurt dip
• Hummus, celery, snow peas and broccoli
• Homemade applesauce and cheese toast

Example Lunch Menus

• Pasta Primavera with vegetables and pesto
• Vegetable soup and cornbread 
• Bean and cheese burritos with cheese, tortillas and fixings
• Brown Rice and peanut sauce with tofu and steamed veggies

**WE ACCOMMODATE DIETARY RESTRICTIONS WHERE POSSIBLE, AND PARENTS MAY SUPPLEMENT CERTAIN FOODS FROM HOME IF NEEDED .**

Parent Collaboration

Particularly with this age group, our partnering with parents is of utmost importance. Whether our teachers are involved in giving prenatal information, or helping parents to create a beautiful Montessori-inspired environment for their child at home, we provide support to make the infant and toddler years productive and happy for the whole family. contact us to learn about our Parent-Child class.

Pre-Primary — Our Goal

When all the elements of care, community, and education work together in harmony, Montessori can:

• Provide experiences that stimulate the senses
• Enrich the child’s vocabulary and understanding of language
• Provide ample time for the child to repeat and master activities as long as it is productive
• Teach our children how to use tools in their environment such as eating utensils, brooms, sponges, etc.
• Give children the opportunity to develop, through firsthand experiences, a sense of self esteem, self worth, and self confidence

Maria Montessori used the phrase, “Help me to do it by myself!” Very young children working toward independence in eating, dressing and toileting are really working toward what they want to do. We embrace each child as an individual, allowing them to go at his or her own pace, to achieve their independence.

A Day in the Life With a Child in the Pre-Primary Classroom

Arrival

Our Pre-Primary children carry in their own belongings as their parents escort them to the classroom door of the Bambini Piccoli community. Walking in on their own is a special stepping stone to independence that helps set the tone for the day. Goodbyes seem to be easiest when they are short and sweet!

In the Classroom

Once inside the classroom, children remove their outdoor shoes and put on their inside shoes, and always wash hands before engaging with any activity. If children are still in diapers, they will change into the school’s cloth diapers for their time in the center. After hand washing, early-arriving children may help with the preparation for morning snack by helping restock items or by placing a small vase of fresh flowers on the table. When the snack table opens, each child knows where to find their placemat, cloth napkin, and small plate and can help themselves when they feel hungry and a spot is open. Simultaneously, children are choosing various activities to begin their day. One may be at the art easel starting a painting, while another may help fold small hand towels and another may choose a sorting activity. One of the guides may introduce a child to a new activity, such as learning the names of various animals with small figurines. Toddlers love to be included in purposeful activities, so as things need to be washed, they relish being shown how to do it. Teachers even include them in simple repairs of classroom materials, which helps them feel that as valued members of the community, they have something to contribute.

When the weather is warm enough, this uninterrupted period of work time also includes more purposeful practical life activities outside in the play yard such as watering plants, window washing, and egg shell grinding (to be added to potting soil later).

Snack Time

The snack area closes mid-morning to help create a window of time between meals. Some children may help the teachers prepare the room for lunch at the end of the morning. Children gather together for a brief circle time where they learn new songs, finger plays, enjoy some movement activities, hear stories, and sometimes even receive a group lesson on a particular activity such as how to say hello and greet a new friend. 

Lunch Time

The lunch table is set with a tablecloth, placemats, cloth napkins, small water glasses, and a vase or two of fresh flowers. Children love to help with this process, as it makes them feel an integral part of the homey routines of the day in which they find connection and belonging. Once all of the children are seated with their guides, the beginning of mealtime is marked with a simple song. Children remain seated during the meal and get to practice simple “Grace and Courtesies” that come with a group mealtime. When they are done, they scrape off their plates in the food scraps container that goes into compost.

Outdoor Play

After lunch, children head into the outdoor play area for a bit of outside time while the teachers prepare the environment for nap time. Children may help to prepare their floor mats by covering them with cotton sheets and retrieving their blankets and lovies to snuggle in with. Blinds are pulled, soft music envelops the room, and as the children return and snuggle in, teachers gently move about to support the process of settling into rest.

Afternoon Nap & Snack

After nap, the children gather again for an afternoon snack, which often consists of a baked good such as a muffin or scone prepared by the older children along with fresh fruit. In warmer months, afternoon snack is served outside at the small table on the patio area under the trees. After helping clean up snack, children have more time in the play yard for outdoor fun before the day ends. By the time family members return to pick up the Pre-Primary children, they have changed from the school’s cloth diapers back into whatever they use at home, belongings are gathered and children are ready for hugs and kisses from their loved ones as they head home for the rest of the day.

Transition to Primary

Sometime between the ages of 2.5 to 3 years of age, your child will start to give us signs that he is ready to move up. Their language skills will start to develop rapidly; they will express a growing independence in self care and other work; they will want to know what is outside of the Bambini Piccoli Community!

They are now ready to transition to the Primary classroom, for children from the ages of 3 to 6 years.