Willowwind Montessori Preschool
Full-time and part-time options available.
The goal of Willowwind's Montessori program is to teach the child as a whole, equally guiding the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth of each child. Through the prepared environment, calmness of the teacher, and attention to grace and courtesy, we strive to offer an educational experience based upon the teachings of Maria Montessori.
Curriculum Areas
Practical Life
Practical Life exercises teach independence and concentration. Students strengthen fine and gross motor skills, develop physical coordination, and encourage care of self, classroom, and environment. Practical Life works include pouring, sorting, tweezing, scooping, food preparation, hand washing, dish washing, dusting, and sweeping. Activities are designed to transfer from left to right in order to prepare children for future work with reading and writing.
Sensorial Area
Sensorial works engage and sharpen the five senses. Students explore size, shape, color, dimension, texture, sound, and scent. Traditional Montessori works include knobbed and knobless cylinders, red rods, brown stairs, pink tower blocks, sound shakers, and spice smelling. Willowwind also incorporates non-traditional options such as play-dough, hammering, beading, and puzzles. Sensorial activities continue to enhance fine and gross motor skills and develop the pincer grasp, which will later be used to achieve correct pencil grip.
Mathematics
Math works introduce counting, number recognition, place identification, decimals and fractions, and basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. By using tangible manipulatives such as the colored bead stair, counting rods, and golden bead material, students engage with numbers and mathematical concepts in concrete ways. Learning becomes more abstract as students progress through the program, preparing them for lower elementary mathematics.
Grace and Courtesy
Character development is a key component of Willowwind philosophy of education, and the Montessori program supports this mission beginning with our earliest learners. In the preschool, students learn the importance of communication skills, employing such language as “please, thank you, excuse me” to help them thrive as caring citizens. Our students are taught conflict-resolution and how to verbalize needs.
Language Area
Willowwind offers a variety of language works geared toward many language and reading levels. Students begin by gaining familiarity with letter shapes and sounds using sandpaper letters, name tracing, and letters of the week. Students further hone their reading skills with works incorporating letter blending, word building, and Bob books. Willowwind encourages a love of reading. Preschool students of every reading level are free to explore books on their own in the peaceful reading corner and teachers are always available to read aloud.
Science
The preschool science curriculum introduces the basics of the scientific method and seeks to cultivate curiosity about the world. Students explore different activities including magnetism, weather, space, seeds and plants, and the human body. The curriculum is flexible enough to reflect students’ interests and students are encouraged to ask questions, conduct experiments, and share their discoveries.
Humanities
Willowwind incorporates arts, geography and culture into the curriculum in order for young students to better understand the world and their place in it. Puzzle maps of the world, country, and state help cultivate geographical and spatial awareness. Festivals and holidays from around the world are introduced and sometimes celebrated (including but not limited to Eid al-Adha, the Dia de los Muertos, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, etc.). Activities are always supplemented with age-appropriate lessons and books.
Specials
Willowwind Montessori Preschool incorporates additional experiences into the curriculum regularly. Art, Music, Physical Education, Garden Class, and 5th/6th grade mentor time offer valuable and age-appropriate exposure to art, culture, and STEM ideas while also fostering a sense of community with Willowwind’s K-6 students and teachers.
READY TO VISIT?
We encourage families to stop by to investigate, explore, and discover why Willowwind students Love Every Day!
Full-time Preschool
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m
Part-time Preschool
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Before and After-School Programs are available from 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.