Primary Preschool

Montessori Education for ages 3-6

Schedule A Tour Fall 2020

Our Montessori Preschool students are...

Eco-Explorers

Imagine a place where children explore on a 22-acre campus adjacent to a state park. Where they learn sustainability and environmental responsibility through composting, visiting pollinator gardens, planting vegetables and flowers, and collecting eggs at the organic farm. Their classroom goes beyond the school's walls, extending into the natural world.

Independent

From plate washing and flower arranging to snack preparation and polishing, our students gain confidence and independence from learning how to execute these Practical Life skills. Not only are students learning independence but these skills are also helping develop the foundations for reading, writing, focused task execution and more.

Academically Prepared

Although lessons feel like fun, our students are actually creating the foundation for handwriting, mathematics, science, and more. A Montessori education allows students to develop a passion for learning and to move at their own pace. For example, if they're excited about handwriting the Guide will give them lessons beyond traditional expectations for the student's age.

"For us, the school truly feels like a community and a nurturing environment for the children and for the parents as well. I always know that the children are raised in an environment where they are respected and supported in every possible caring way!"

Andreea
Primary and YCC Parent

A Preschool and Community that Supports Your Child.

Are you searching for a nurturing community, highly-trained teachers, and a school that feels like a second home? Then join us at Butler Montessori. The secret ingredient to our community is that every faculty and staff member truly wants to be here. They love and know your child and believe in the mission. In this video, one of our teachers shares how this environment is special.

Where school doesn't feel like school

A Montessori education gives students a holistic, experiential learning experience without the stress and burnout. Our students graduate academically prepared and ready for real-world challenges

Learn About Preschool Academics

How are we different than the Preschool down the street?

Our AMI-certified Primary teachers are trained to support the social and emotional growth of children ages 3-6. We spark the love of learning by creating a caring and prepared environment for learning. Children develop independence, gain confidence, practice compassion and learn at their own pace.

"Both my children love their "work" and often give us lessons at home, emulating their guides. The friendships they have developed and the experiences they have had (visiting the horses and chickens, going on hikes, enjoying the campus, mastering their work) are priceless. "

Jessica
YCC, Primary and Elementary Parent

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a typical day in the Primary?

A Typical Montessori Day:

8:45 am: The three hour work period begins. Children are given lessons during this time or engage in a piece of work like sandpaper letters (a precursor to reading and writing), golden bead addition (mathematics), sewing (fine motor skills), or preparing snack (part of Practical Life and skill building).

*Snack* A hungry child can't focus on lessons so children can choose when to take snack during the morning session. Snack preparation (cutting vegetables and fruit, setting out a sample "snack plate" and other tasks help the child with Practical Life skills)

11:40 am: Hiking on our 22-acre campus, gardening, visiting the Intermediate student-run farm, or playground time

12:00 pm: Half day students depart. Lunch begins. Students help arrange the tables and set the places.

12:30 pm: Lunch ends. Students help wash dishes and clean the room (as part of Practical Life).

12:30 pm: Outside Exploration

1:00 pm: A two hour work period begins.

3:00 pm: Student dismissal

The beauty of the Montessori environment is that teachers have the ability to sense the children's needs and respond to them.

Although a typical day includes a three hour morning work period (statistically linked to increased focus and concentration), sometimes the children have boundless energy and need an outlet.

The teacher may decide a hike through the woods would be a better way to start the day or perhaps begin with gardening.

What is the class size?

Many parents come to our school looking for traditional "small class sizes" because they believe a small class size equals more personalized attention.

However, they are surprised when they observe our classrooms to see that a larger group of Montessori children functions much better than a traditional environment.

Here children engage in individual or small group lessons with teachers. They choose their "work" (which never feels like work!) so they're passionate about their lessons and excited to learn every day.

Although Montessori classroom sizes vary between 17-26 students with an AMI-certified teacher and assistant, it never feels too large. In fact, parents are in awe of the peaceful and meaningful way students engage with each other and the lessons.

On an average day, you'll find a 6-year-old student helping a 3-year-old prepare snack. You'll find a child quietly sitting, absorbed in a math problem. Or you might see the teacher giving a lesson with a student on sandpaper letters (which helps them learn cursive and sounds) at the center table.

The day flows smoothly as children are excited to learn and treat each other with respect and kindness (part of the Montessori curriculum).

The Montessori approach is child-centered and based on the child’s stages of development.

In a Montessori classroom, children of different ages work independently and seek help from the teacher or other students as needed. Working in this manner facilitates peer-to-peer learning, which allows students to deepen their understanding of the material.

…because in real life:

The Montessori method is uniquely suited for preparing students for today’s highly dynamic work environment. Here’s just one example: The Agile methodology has been widely adopted in leading technology and research enterprises.

The similarities between Montessori and Agile are striking. The Agile Manifesto describes it as “a collaboration between self-organizing, cross-functional groups promoting adaptive planning, evolutionary development, and rapid and flexible response to change.” This describes what takes place every day in a Montessori classroom.

What training do our teachers receive?

How do our teachers compare to traditional teachers? Our teachers receive vigorous training through Association of Montessori International and specialize in a particular age group (ex: ages 3-6 in the Primary classroom).

This allows them to respond to a child's emotional, social, and academic needs and give them the support and love they need to thrive.

Teachers calmly help children resolve conflicts and model behavior for the children. They are kind and caring and know when a child needs a hug or is having a rough day.

We attract and retain the highest level of teacher because they believe in the Montessori philosophy and the benefits to the children. They love being a part of our close-knit community and support our school's mission.

What's the difference between Montessori and traditional preschools?

Montessori teachers guide children through activities, rather than decide and direct what should or shouldn’t be done. Traditional preschool teachers follow a curriculum or a set order of each class instead.

Montessori teachers follow the individual needs and interests of each child, whereas traditional schools set the same tasks for each child regardless of his or her learning capacity.

Montessori lessons are also extremely active and hands-on, encouraging children to solve problems and learn for themselves. On the other hand, more traditional preschools mostly teach in a way which means the students to learn more passively by listening, memorizing and repeating information.

Montessori teachers respect and even encourage a child to go at their own pace with each activity. In traditional classrooms, it is often expected that all children will complete each activity at the same pace, or stop doing it if not finished within the time allocated.

Are children academically prepared when they leave the Primary?

If you want a sense of how influential the Montessori method can be, just ask today’s accomplished CEOs, business leaders, innovators, and artists. People such as Larry Page and Sergei Brin (the founders of Google), Jeff Bezos (CEO of Amazon), Grammy Award-winning artist Taylor Swift, and author Helen Keller all enjoyed an early Montessori education that helped provide them the foundation for their careers.

In many ways, the Montessori classroom mimics the world of work, offering your child practice at developing skills that will serve them well throughout their career.

Your child will be encouraged to develop a sense of teamwork with both older and younger children. And by allowing your child to pursue their education at their own pace, one-on-one, your child can foster the independence, self-discipline, and confidence needed to spearhead work projects, find innovative solutions, and be a leader in their job.

See our Preschool in action!

Interested in learning more about our Preschool program? Visit our beautiful 22-acre campus for a personalized tour of our award-winning green school programs, organic student-run farm, and our experiential academic learning environments.

Schedule A Tour