Children’s House (Ages 3 – 6 years)

The Children’s House program serves children ages 3 to 6. We offer both half-day (8:30–11:30 a.m.) and full-day (8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.) options. To enroll, children must be toilet-trained. Importantly, this mixed-age environment allows children to stay in the same classroom for three to four years. As a result, they create a strong sense of community with their classmates, teachers, and parents.

Building Strong Teacher-Child Connections

Our teachers are certified by the American Montessori Society (AMS) or the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). They are dedicated to guiding each child’s growth using Montessori principles. With their extensive training, they build joyful and meaningful connections that support each child’s curiosity and development throughout the three-year journey together in our whole child Montessori program.

A Classroom for Self-Discovery

In the Children’s House, the teacher carefully organizes the classroom environment to encourage self-discovery. Low shelves, beautiful artwork, and interesting cultural items are arranged to spark curiosity and promote independence. As children explore, they gain a sense of ownership over their space, which strengthens their connection to the classroom community.

Learning Essential Life Skills

In our primary classroom, children learn to become their best selves. Through activities in “grace and courtesy,” they practice skills for positive social interactions. This includes resolving conflicts, being polite, and showing kindness. Consequently, these foundational skills help children interact well with others and form healthy relationships.

Extended-Day (Kindergarten): Leadership in Action

Our Extended Day program, which serves as the kindergarten year, allows 5- and 6-year-olds to develop essential leadership skills. By acting as role models, they take on responsibilities that boost their confidence and self-esteem. In this supportive environment, children build on their earlier learning, preparing for new academic and social challenges. For example, children in the Morning Class stay until 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Meanwhile, those in the All-Day Class transition to the Extended Day Classroom on these days.

The Absorbent Mind: Nurturing Natural Curiosity

Children possess an amazing ability to absorb information from their surroundings. Dr. Montessori referred to this as “the absorbent mind.” This natural curiosity drives their engagement with the world and fosters a love of learning that extends beyond the classroom.

Enrichment Beyond the Core Curriculum

In addition to core Montessori activities, children participate in specialized classes such as Spanish, Musikgarten, and Body Movement to support their development in our whole child Montessori program. These enriching classes allow them to explore new skills, express creativity, and build confidence.

Lower Elementary (Ages 6 – 9 years)

A Unique Advantage

At Montessori Children’s Community, students can continue their Montessori education up to eighth grade. The elementary years (ages 6-9) are a time of significant social growth. Our multi-age classroom supports each child’s unique needs, creating a space where everyone feels they belong. As students build on the foundational skills developed in the Children’s House, they advance in reading, math, language, handwriting, and subjects like history, zoology, botany, and geography. Moreover, our program emphasizes social skills and self-confidence, with enrichment in Spanish, music, art, science, computer lab, and physical education. Unlike many schools, students enjoy Spanish three times a week, which helps them begin mastering the language early.

Exploring the “Whole of Life”

Elementary children are naturally curious and eager to understand the world. Dr. Montessori believed this was the ideal time to introduce them to a big-picture view of life. To achieve this, we utilize five interconnected stories to provide children with a “cosmic” perspective:

• Story of the Universe: Covers how solar systems, oceans, and volcanoes formed.
• Coming of Life: Shows the evolution of life, from single-celled organisms to humans.
• Coming of Humans: Celebrates humans’ unique qualities and contributions.
• Story of Communication in Signs: Explores language development and written communication.
• Story of Communication of Numbers: Teaches the invention of numbers and mathematics.

Through these stories, children begin to understand their place in the world and humanity’s shared journey.

A Supportive Community

The Lower Elementary program at Montessori Children’s Community is more than just academics; it’s a close-knit community. Here, children grow socially and begin to see their role in the larger world. Through individualized work, they learn to set goals, manage time, and complete projects. Our approach helps them become independent, productive, and prepared for success.

Upper Elementary (Ages 9 – 12 years)

In Upper Elementary (ages 9-12), students strengthen and expand the skills they learned in Lower Elementary. The curriculum becomes more challenging, requiring students to engage in more research, collaboration, and advanced work with Montessori materials. During this stage, they transition from concrete to abstract thinking, which prepares them for complex problem-solving.

Expansive Curriculum

The curriculum covers creative writing, grammar, poetry, research, and literary analysis. In math, students progress to abstract concepts such as geometry, fractions, decimals, probability, and beginning algebra. Additionally, science, geology, chemistry, physics, and history are explored through hands-on experiments. With a focus on American and state history, students gain a deep understanding of their cultural heritage. Enrichment in art, music, Spanish, science, computer lab, and physical education rounds out the program.

The “Big Trip”

Each year, Upper Elementary students embark on a “Big Trip” that brings their studies to life. Planned throughout the year and funded in part by projects like “Pizza Thursday” and “Montessori Cafe,” this trip offers hands-on learning experiences. Past trips have included Wallops Island, VA, for nature studies and Washington, D.C., for government studies. Furthermore, sixth-year students also travel to Costa Rica, where they experience new cultures and environments.

Growing Through Community

In Upper Elementary, students work within a democratic community, learning to value the opinions of others and take responsibility. Dr. Montessori recognized this age as a time of increased independence and a strong sense of justice. We encourage students to complete the 6th year to gain a sense of closure and prepare for middle school. As a result of our whole child Montessori program, graduates often feel well-prepared, both academically and socially, for the next stage of their education.

Middle School (Ages 12 – 14 years)

The Sewickley Montessori Middle School

Sewickley Montessori Middle School offers a challenging program for 7th and 8th graders. We emphasize academics, social skills, physical activity, and emotional growth. Students engage in studies across math, language, science, social studies, geography, history, art, music, technology, and physical education. Importantly, many learning experiences occur outside the classroom, providing students with hands-on, real-world learning opportunities.

Adolescence is a time of rapid growth and development. Our program supports young teens in their journey to become independent thinkers and active members of their community. We create a safe, supportive environment where students can thrive alongside their peers and mentors.

Meeting Adolescents’ Needs

Montessori refers to this phase of life as the “Third Plane of Development.” During this time, adolescents experience significant physical and mental changes that can affect their focus. They often grapple with important questions such as:

• Who am I?
• Where do I fit in?
• How can I help others?

Montessori believed that teens need both activity and variety to flourish. Therefore, our curriculum is designed around the “Pedagogy of Place.” This approach allows students to feel they belong, take on shared responsibilities, and make meaningful contributions to their community.

Maria Montessori stated, “The thing that is important above everything else is that the adolescent should have a life of activity and variety.”

A Curriculum for Adolescent Growth

Our curriculum centers on three key areas:

1. Learning and Thinking: We ensure our curriculum meets and exceeds Pennsylvania State Standards by blending subjects, allowing students to make connections across different areas.
2. Self-Expression: Students have ample opportunities to explore creativity and share their ideas, which helps them find their unique voice.
3. Preparation for Adult Life: Our program teaches practical skills and builds confidence, preparing students for life beyond school.

Montessori recognized that teens require variety, social interaction, and active engagement. This program encourages independence and personal growth, with the goal of equipping students for their future.

A Curriculum Rooted in Real-World Application

At Sewickley Montessori Middle School, we connect learning to the world around us. Adolescents are eager to apply their skills and often ask, “What will I use this for?” Our projects provide hands-on experiences, such as monitoring water quality in the Ohio River, growing a community garden, and running small businesses.

Furthermore, students explore subjects like physics, architecture, ecology, and business through visits to various locations in Pittsburgh and Sewickley. These experiences not only teach practical skills but also demonstrate how their efforts can positively impact the world around them.