Primary   The 3-6 age environment is set up so your child can successfully learn life skills for the best start possible. The areas of the classroom cover all appropriate academic areas. See Montessori for additional information about the areas of the classroom.   In the 3-6 classroom your child will have the opportunity to work with other children. As a three year old your child will observe the older children and be helped by them. As a four year old your child will most likely be interested in more academic areas of the classroom, especially reading and mathematics. As a five year old child, your child becomes a class leader as well as a guide for the younger children. Five year old children can stay at MCA for their kindergarten year and in most cases be ready for first grade the following year. Children progress through the materials at their own pace. If your child is advanced in language, material and lessons will be given accordingly. Likewise, if your child takes a little longer to obtain a skill they have the time and material to work on the lesson until it is mastered.   A sample class schedule: 7:00 – 8:15 Children arrive, put their things away and have free choice. 8:15 - 8:30 The academic day begins. 8:30 - 10:30 Work time. During work time children choose work independently. The teacher and assistant work individually or with small groups to give lessons. A child can choose a work as many times as they would like once they have had a lesson. Children also participate in snack during work time. 10:30 - 11:00 Whole group activities: line activities that include stories, songs, and lessons. 11: 00 - 11:30 Outside/free play 11:30 - 11:45 Prepare for lunch (wash hands) 11:45 – 12:15 Lunch 12:15 – 2:00 Younger friends prepare for quiet time/rest time; older friends have story time and return to work. Younger friends may join the older friends upon awakening from their rest. 2:00 – 3:00 Snack/Recess/Free Play  3:00 – 3:15 Prepare for dismissal 3:15 - 6:00 Free play (activities include snack, art, games, stories...) The primary class is maintained by a trained Montessori teacher that prepares the 5 areas of the classroom as the needs of the children dictate. Practical life, sensorial, language, mathematics, and cultural are areas the children receive lessons. The children are introduced to materials as they show an interest and as the teacher observes the needs of the child. The assistant in the class helps by preparing the classroom, and assisting the teacher in whatever needs to be done. The primary children go on field trips once a month during the academic school year. We also have guests that visit our school to share an area of expertise. Once a month a storyteller comes to visit to help the children learn to visualize a story. Twice a month Jump Bunch, a physical education program comes to our school. The children learn different skills such as kicking a ball, hiking a football...   The primary children also take great care in taking care of our class pets. Pets such as fish, hamsters, birds, hermit crabs and more help the children learn responsibility for another living thing. Children also learn wonderful observation skills! The Primary and toddler children also receive instruction in music and spanish (two times per week). One day a week they have arts and crafts in addition to planned activities by the classroom teacher. Please come and visit our primary classrooms – your child is welcome to join you when you visit.