Early Childhood Program

(Ages 3–6, mixed ages in each class)

Children must be 3 years old by September 1.

Schedule Options

Early Childhood Half Day: 8:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Early Childhood Full Day: 8:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

(both schedule options include lunch)

The Three-Year Cycle in Early Childhood (Tim Seldin, ISM, 2025)

Year 1: Discovery and Orientation - Building order, coordination, and independence.

Year 2: Practice and Purpose - Confidence, refinement, curiosity, and fluency.

Year 3: Leadership and Mastery - Transformation and leadership.

Mornings in Early Childhood

A hallmark of the Early Childhood Program is the uninterrupted work period, which allows children extended time for deep concentration and purposeful engagement within the Montessori classroom. Each activity has a beginning, middle, and end, and mastery often develops over many months and many times. By the child's final year, their Montessori Kindergarten year, they work confidently and independently with the classroom materials that provide increasing learning opportunities that propel your child throughout the advanced curriculum.

Gross motor activities are woven into the week, including regular visits to the indoor gym for movement, balance, and coordination activities. Outdoor play is also an essential part of each day, giving children opportunities to explore, move freely, and connect with nature.

Through this balance of work and play, children grow cognitively, socially, and physically. They develop secure relationships with teachers and peers, gain confidence through repeated successes, and build independence as they master practical life skills.

Academic learning unfolds naturally across Language, Math, Science, and Geography. Social-emotional growth is equally emphasized as children practice collaboration, problem-solving, and empathy as well as learning to contribute positively to their classroom community.

Our goal is to help each child develop a positive, respectful attitude toward self, others, and learning. Skilled Guides observe closely, guiding and following each child’s development and tailoring the environment to meet their unique needs. Every child is seen as an individual with their own pace and path of learning.

The multi-age classroom is thoughtfully organized, featuring beautiful Montessori materials that reflect reality and nature. These materials are designed for independent and group exploration, allowing freedom of movement and choice within a structured, orderly environment.

Lunchtime

Lunchtime provides another opportunity for children to work toward grace and courtesy. This time together in their classroom also increases their awareness of good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.

The children are responsible for helping prepare the environment for mealtime by setting their place at a table with a placement, napkin, silverware and glass cup for water. When they finish eating their lunch, they are responsible for clearing their space and placing items in the dishwasher and laundry baskets as well as using a small dustpan and broom to clear the area of any crumbs. Children have the choice to bring lunch from home or they can have the hot catered lunch which is provided by the school.

Afternoons in Early Childhood

First-Year Students

After lunch and outdoor play, first-year Full Day students transition to the gross motor room for rest or nap. Guides assist children in settling comfortably on cots provided by the school. A small blanket or pillow from home is welcome. This time, typically under 2 hours, allows children to reset their minds and bodies, ultimately preparing them for the second half of their day when they arrive home. Children ready themselves to either go home or go outside if they are enrolled in Extended Care. Children who wake prior to the end of nap time are offered a book to quietly look at.

Second-Year Students

Second-year students enjoy outdoor time after lunch before returning to their classroom. Children engage in an afternoon work period similar to the morning, however two days a week, they participate in enrichment classes such as Spanish and Art. Enrichment programs may differ year to year.

Third-Year / Montessori Kindergarten Students

Children entering their final Montessori Kindergarten year must be five years old by September 1.

Montessori Kindergarten at Ronald Knox

Children must be 5 years old by September 1.

The Montessori Kindergarten year represents the culmination of a child’s journey through the multi-year Early Childhood Program. This is a time of remarkable growth in confidence, independence, and leadership. As the oldest members of their classroom community, our Kindergarteners model responsibility, guide younger peers, and deepen their understanding of Montessori materials through purposeful work and reflection.

During this important stage of development, your child’s experience includes a mix of individual lessons, small-group collaboration, and independent work that spans every area of the Montessori curriculum; language, math, cultural studies, and the arts. These experiences lay a strong academic foundation through hands-on exploration and critical thinking. Many children move into advanced learning opportunities that extend beyond typical first-grade expectations, allowing them to progress at their own pace while developing a lifelong love of learning.

The morning work period flows naturally into outdoor play and/or lunch, depending on the day’s rhythm. Each day may look a little different, shaped by weather, classroom focus, and community celebrations, reflecting the flexible and responsive nature of a Montessori environment.

In the afternoon, Kindergarteners spend part of their week continuing their work in their core classroom, engaging in Montessori lessons, enrichment such as Spanish, and ongoing project work. On other afternoons, all Kindergarteners come together as a dedicated group for Fine Arts and enrichment experiences, including Drama, Art, and First Grade Readiness. These sessions foster creativity, collaboration, and confidence as children prepare for the next stage of their educational journey.

Guides partner closely with families to assess each child’s readiness for first grade and to ensure a smooth, confident transition. The full-day schedule supports an uninterrupted flow of learning, combining the benefits of the multi-age Montessori morning with focused enrichment and community-building experiences in the afternoon.

2031 Elmwood Avenue

Wilmette IL 60091

847-256-2922

We are fully accredited by the American Montessori Society.