Programs
General Info
Ages
P1 community: 18 months – 3 years
P2 community: 3 – 6 years
Regular Hours
Half day morning program (P1 & P2): 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Full day program (P1 & P2): 8:30 am – 4 pm
Extended Hours
P1: 7:30 am – 5 pm
P2: 7:30 am – 5:30 pm
A minimum of 4 half days or 3 full days is required for each student.
Children’s Circle Montessori is an approved kindergarten by the
Nebraska Department of Education and licensed childcare by
the Nebraska Health and Human Services.
Children’s Circle Montessori has a contract to accept Title XX payments.
Primary 1 Community
18 months to 3 years
The children are introduced to the Montessori Method through a prepared environment that builds the foundation of their learning.
Areas of the toddler classroom include:
Practical Life
Art
Math
Sensorial
Language
Science/Culture
Children work independently or together in small groups with a work of their choice. In the Primary 1 community, the teachers work with the children on fulfilling basic human trust by encouraging independence, separation, self-control,
and exploration of the environment.
Community relationships and social skills are formed through interaction of peers in a multi- age classroom during snack, lunch, outdoor play, and small group activities. It is important to build a relationship between the adult guides and students along with families for a successful and respectful growth process.
The outdoor environment is an extension of our indoor environment and is used twice every day except in extreme weather conditions.
Children that are enrolled in our Primary 1 community are assured of an enrollment place in our Primary 2 community.
Primary 2 Community
3 years-6 years (through the kindergarten year)
The prepared environment in Primary 2 invites the child to touch the materials!
The Primary 2 classroom has 6 main areas:
Practical Life
Sensorial
Language & Reading
Mathmatic
Cultural/Science
Art
Through the use of the Montessori materials and the Montessori educational method, the children learn to read, write, and calculate in the same natural way they learn to walk and talk. They are invited to do this at their own pace of interest and readiness. The children develop coordination, concentration, attention to detail, good working habits, a sense of cooperation, and most importantly, confidence in their abilities.
The Cultural/Science area involves work in geography, history, science, art, customs, etc., and promotes the children’s understanding of the larger world.
Children learn from adult guides and from each other lessons in grace and courtesy – how to interrupt politely, walking carefully around rugs and tables, and asking for help. The teacher observes a child’s interests and gives new lessons when the child is ready.The children will work individually or in small groups exploring these interests. The range of ages ensures varying levels of ability and interest, all of which can be served by the same materials used in different ways. The older children serve as models to the younger ones, offering to help when they see someone struggling. The Kindergarten year brings together the culmination of the previous years and the important role of the kindergarten child as a leader in the classroom.
The outdoor environment is an extension of our indoor environment and is used twice every day except in extreme weather.
The Importance of the Kindergarten Year
The Kindergarten year brings together the culmination of the previous years in the Montessori community.
Staying in the Montessori classroom through the Kindergarten year has many advantages. The teachers in your child’s classroom already know your child and are ready to meet them where they are. They can continue your child’s development in each of the academic area. The Montessori materials are designed to change and challenge the children as they grow. In Math the children have the opportunity to learn addition & subtraction, and even multiplication and division in a concrete way! Some of our kindergarten children are already reading, but if not we will help them individually to develop the skills they need to read and write. The areas of Sensorial, Cultural, and Science all have advanced materials to challenge the child.
At Children’s Circle Montessori we feel the most important reason to have your child stay through Kindergarten is not for the academics, but for the opportunity to be a leader in the classroom. The oldest children are looked up to by the younger children. Watching an older child helping a younger child with a work activity is a beautiful thing! The older children develop empathy, compassion and confidence through the year which leads to a well rounded child that is ready for their next educational experience.
Outdoor Environment
“Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment.” Maria Montessori
At Children’s Circle Montessori the outdoor environment is an extension of our indoor prepared environment. We enjoy the hot, cold, windy, snowy and lightly rainy days with appropriate clothing. At Children’s Circle Montessori we follow the adage “There is no bad weather, just wrong clothing!”
Our playgrounds may not look much different from those you would see at other learning centers. The difference comes in how we utilize the playground and the amount of time we spend time outdoors. On a typical day we will have two outdoor periods, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Each outdoor time is approximately 30-45 minutes each. Young children need time to move their bodies freely, socialize with peers, and breathe fresh air. The extended periods of outdoor time allow for opportunities with problem solving, conflict resolution, and planning and carrying out creative play.
We put our trust in the children to know their limits, and we show this trust by allowing them to take risks that we are confident they can handle. We offer support and guidance so the child may decide their own course of action by learning through play.
Our buildings are a part of the Meadowlane Neighborhood which is a wonderful place for the children to enjoy walks in small groups. Nature walks are yet another way of building relationships as we explore the outdoors.