Programs & Tuition at Country Day Montessori

Programs

Primary (ages 2 years and 9 months - 5)

Our primary program is based around a few key areas:

Practical Life is designed to coordinate the brain, muscles and senses, increase attention span, help make the child independent in their own environment, and help the child produce an order to their approach to the successful completion of exercises.
Sensorial education involves using manipulative materials designed to educate and refine the senses, tactile, visual, and auditory - even gustatory and olfactory.
Language begins with the Sandpaper letters and progresses through all the phonetic skills. It includes vocabulary development and learning to read and write.
Math Our Montessori approach to mathematics incorporates kinetic learning materials and paper-based exercises to present both fundamental precepts as the foundation for a deep understanding of math. Children who enjoy working with math materials often leave our school mastering dynamic addition and subtraction into the thousands, as well as obtaining an understanding of multiplication/division.
Science and Cultural Studies Dr. Montessori was passionate that the key to a peaceful world was held within the peaceful child. By exploring cultural activities including maps, music, food, and artifacts, with a focus on the similarities on people throughout the world, the child builds awareness of the world around her. The diversity of our families and staff, in conjunction with the cultural materials, help our students develop a respect for all peoples.
Computer Lab begins with simple keyboarding skills, advancing to specific programs utilizing the above skills

Kindergarten & First Grade (ages 5-7)

Kindergarten, the culminating year of the Children’s House cycle, provides an extraordinary opportunity for 5-6 year-olds to develop leadership skills. Kindergartners act as role models for their younger classmates as they take responsibility for themselves and their environment, work collaboratively with their peers, and help younger children with tasks and the use of materials. This leadership role promotes children’s deeper understanding of social and academic concepts and skills and gives them the confidence to meet new challenges. It is truly a year of extraordinary growth and development.

Our program integrates children of varying ages and abilities, per Montessori teachings. Children work at their own level, whether accelerated, at grade level, or remedial. Children are taught individually and in small groups. Phonics and comprehension are an integral part of the curriculum.

Fields of study include reading, penmanship, creative writing, art, math, science, history, research methods, foreign language, computer skills, and music.

Our elementary program is registered with the State Department of Education and all of our programs align with California Common Core standards.

Foreign Language and Culture

Young children's minds are like sponges - they don't have to consciously learn and translate from English as we adults do. At the same time, knowing a second language enhances children's appreciation of other cultures and peoples. We've been instructing our students in German since the early days. Our German instructor leads weekly lessons in German language, song, dance, and culture. Our teachers speak Italian, and Spanish. It is not uncommon to hear children singing in many languages.

Dance & Movement

Dance and music encourage creative expression, social skills, and physical fitness. Not to mention it brings the children a lot of joy and establishes a love of music and dance right from the start.

Former CDM graduate Gianna Kaldunski leads the children in dance instruction on Wednesday, with a focus on creative takes on favorite songs balanced with mindfulness. Practice culminates in our year-end graduation celebration in May, when the children perform on stage in front of family and friends.

Summer

Country Day Montessori's Summer Program begins the Monday following the end of the School Calendar year. Each week of summer school focuses on a different topic. We continue students' school work each week and find that children who attend our summer program do not lose ground during the break.

Tuition for the Summer Program is billed weekly, with the option of adding on daycare hours. We are closed for 3 weeks prior to school re-opening in August.