Children entering The Casa find many familiar activities awaiting them -- activities that serve to smooth the transition from their home to their new school. These Practical Life Exercises (PLE) help children advance at their own pace in areas such as elementary movements (walking and running), personal care (dressing and grooming), their environment (folding laundry, washing dishes, watering plants), and social relations (grace and courtesy skills). The preparation of daily snacks is a particularly popular way of helping children with decision making and team building.

Sensorial Materials

Sensorial Materials (ones which are identified by specific physical qualities such as color, shape or size) provide powerful means for children to realize the immense number of stored sensory experiences they already possess. Work with these materials creates a basis for order in their minds, helps them refine their motor coordination and prepares them for conscious exploration of their environment and culture, as well as intellectual activities.

Language

The Children's House is a language-rich environment. Through a variety of materials and activities (including poems, finger-plays, and rhymes), children are exposed to language in all of its fullness and beauty. They become familiar with sounds and symbols of the alphabet and take their first step towards reading. We also introduce the children to American Sign Language.

Mathematics

Our minds are mathematical by nature. We need to reason and measure the environment in which we live. In the Casa, children explore simple, clear mathematical relationships and isolate concepts that will prepare them for abstract reasoning. Through daily work with math materials such as number rods, children develop problem-solving strategies, computational skills and confidence.

Cultural Studies

Art, Music, Geography and Science are an integral part of a child's Montessori education.

Social Activities
Children interact daily to practice "grace and courtesy" skills and learn how to take responsibility for themselves and to treat others as they would like to be treated.

Celebrations and Traditions
We recognize many time-honored celebrations throughout the year and introduce new traditions and memories that may last a lifetime, including:

• Beginning of the year picnic
• Thanksgiving
• Holiday Program
• Valentine's Day
• Earth Day
• Fun-filled Festival
• End of year celebration with graduation and potluck picnic