Early Childhood Programs > Montessori Preschool
Kindergarten
The Leadership Year for Montessori Preschool Students
Kindergarten is the culminating year in a Montessori Preschool classroom. Kindergarten students are leaders and role models for the first and middle year students in their class and are working toward mastery of the skills they have developed throughout their time in Preschool. Kindergarten is a time of integration and challenge - previously difficult concepts begin to fall into place.
At BHMS, the Kindergarten program is structured to meet the developmental needs of students capable of pursuing a more academically challenging agenda throughout the day. Kindergarten students find joy in learning and collaboration with their peers as their social skills and self-confidence are solidified. While much of their morning is spent in work cycle in their classroom, in the afternoons, there are Kindergarten-only lessons and work sessions. Kindergarten students also have many co-curricular classes throughout the week, which they take with their age-level peers from other classrooms, including: Spanish, music, drama, library, and physical education.
A Typical Day in Kindergarten Includes
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Self-directed work choices guided by individualized work plans
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Time to explore and learn through a variety of beautifully designed Montessori materials
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Kindergarten students are introduced to progressively more advanced Montessori materials and have longer and more in-depth lessons
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A rich curriculum of Math, Language Arts, Geography, Science, Sensorial, Practical Life, and Social Emotional learning
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Opportunities to reinforce skills by demonstrating their knowledge to younger peers
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Social Groups with our Early Childhood Learning Specialist
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A robust schedule of co-curriculars
How the Montessori Experience Is Leveled Up in the Kindergarten Year
Academic Challenge - By Kindergarten, students can work more independently consolidating the knowledge they’ve developed and working toward mastery. Kindergarten students work on more advanced Montessori math and language materials, developing an understanding of number patterns and starting to recognize the parts of speech and how they function in a sentence. Teachers work closely with students on their Individualized Work Plans, giving in-depth lessons in all subject areas, and helping students manage their time to meet expectations.
Kindergarten Co-Curriculars - In their final year in Preschool, students have a robust schedule of co-curriculars. Beginning in Kindergarten, students take Spanish, music, drama, library and physical education. This gives students a chance to build deeper connections with their age-level peers from other classrooms and introduces them to the co-curricular disciplines at BHMS and the faculty who teach them.
Kindergarten Only Lessons and Projects - In the afternoons, students work individually and in groups with their age level peers on larger projects and group lessons. This is a chance for students to deepen their learning and allows for teachers to offer support or challenge, to help students further develop academic skills to ensure they are prepared to enter first grade.
End of Day Jobs and Responsibilities - While all Preschool students participate in taking care of their learning environment, Kindergarten students have added responsibility in their end of day classroom jobs. This is one important way Kindergarten students serve as leaders and role models for their younger peers.
Special Kindergarten Showcases and Performances - In their Kindergarten year, students have opportunities to perform in front of a large school-wide audience at events like Celebration of Light, Grandfriends Day, and All School Sings. Each spring, Kindergarten students put on an Art Show in our third floor gallery for their families and friends.
Bridging Into Lower Elementary - In the later part of the year, Kindergarten students begin to actively prepare to begin first grade and move upstairs to our Lower Elementary program. Kindergarten students start to attend larger school events with the elementary and middle school students, build a relationship with a third grade “reading buddy”, and have opportunities to spend time with Lower Elementary students in the Lower Elementary classrooms.
