Age Groupings

The classes in our Flagship Montessori program are organized into multi-year age groups:

• 18 months to 3 year olds in a Toddler class
• 3 to 5 year olds in a Children's House class
• 6 to 9 year olds (Grades 1 - 3) in a Lower Elementary class
• 9 to 12 year olds (Grades 4 - 6) in an Upper Elementary class

These multi-age classrooms benefit younger students as they learn easily from observing and working with older classmates.  Older students benefit from serving as role models and leaders.  This interaction enhances the development of scholastic understanding and skill development.   Development of leadership and citizenship skills are also enhanced when compared to single age groupings.  Each student becomes an important member of the classroom community.

Students generally continue their learning in a given class for a full three years.  The two teachers in each room are often present throughout this time.  These two factors contribute to the creation of a predictable and stable classroom which, in turn, tends to encourage a high degree of comfort for each child in taking on new learning challenges. The classroom teachers also develop a very strong understanding of each child allowing for uninterrupted and highly individualized guidance in the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes.   The timing of the development of cognitive, social, emotional and physical attributes in each child is highly variable and tends to fluctuate with growth spurts and other developmental factors.  Our mixed age classes facilitates variations in pace among each child.  Lessons are given as the child becomes ready to receive them, not when the teacher decides to present them.