Primary FAQ

Primary Program FAQ

Welcome to our Primary Program FAQ! Below you'll find answers to some of the most common questions about the Montessori approach for children ages 3 to 6 at Omni Montessori School.

What is “Practical Life” and why is it important?

Practical Life is the foundation of the Primary classroom and serves as a bridge between home and school. These activities include real-life tasks like pouring, sweeping, food preparation, and flower arranging. While these may seem like simple chores to adults, they are exciting and meaningful to young children. Practical Life builds essential skills such as coordination, concentration, independence, and a sense of order.

It also introduces Grace and Courtesy lessons, teaching children how to interact respectfully with others and their environment.

How is language taught in the Primary classroom?

Language is woven into every aspect of the Montessori environment. From the very first day, children engage in oral language games and vocabulary-building activities.

They progress through a structured sequence that includes:

• Sound Games to introduce phonetics
• Sandpaper Letters for tactile learning of letters and sounds
• The Moveable Alphabet to form words and sentences
• Phonograms and grammar games to expand vocabulary and sentence structure
• Reading and writing practice using cursive, which supports natural pencil movement and fine motor development
   

Guides also share stories, read books aloud, and recite poetry to enhance language skills and foster a love for reading.

Do children learn a second language in the Primary program?

Yes! Because ages 0–6 are a prime period for language acquisition, each Primary classroom includes at least one native Spanish-speaking adult.

In addition, a dedicated Spanish guide visits each Primary classroom during the morning work cycle for 20–30 minutes, further enriching the children's language exposure.

What is the Sensorial curriculum?

The Sensorial area allows children to explore their world through their senses—touch, sight, sound, smell, and taste.
 

They work with specialized Montessori materials like:

• Pink Tower, Brown Stair, and Red Rods to understand size and dimension
• Color Boxes to explore color gradation
• Constructive Triangles and Geometric Solids for geometric concepts
   

These materials refine children’s perceptions and lay the groundwork for math, language, and scientific understanding.

How is math introduced in a Montessori classroom?

Math begins with hands-on, concrete materials that allow children to understand numbers conceptually rather than through memorization.

They start with:

• Number recognition and counting (0–9)

• Spindle Boxes and Cards & Counters for quantity and number sequencing
   

  As they progress, children work with:

• Golden Beads to explore the decimal system (units, tens, hundreds, thousands)
• Bead Cabinet and skip counting to prepare for multiplication
• Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division concepts
• Binomial and Trinomial Cubes as early introductions to algebra

What subjects are covered in the cultural curriculum?

The cultural curriculum is interdisciplinary and introduces children to geography, history, biology, botany, and physical science.
Children explore:

• Continents, countries, and cultures
• Animal habitats and natural land/water formations
• Maps, classification cards, and science experiments
   

Our diverse school community enhances learning through shared cultural experiences, including language, food, and traditions brought in by families.

How are art and music incorporated?

Art and music are fully integrated into the classroom experience.
Children have daily opportunities to:

• Paint, draw, work with clay, and explore other artistic mediums
• Sing, dance, play instruments, and experience rhythm
• Learn about music and art through cultural and historical lenses
   

These activities nurture creativity and expression in a natural, joyful way.

What role does the outdoor environment play?

Outdoor exploration is an essential part of the Primary experience.

Each classroom has direct access to an outdoor deck and garden maintained by the children. Activities include:

• Gardening, planting, and pruning
• Woodworking and balancing exercises
• Observing and caring for classroom pets

Experiences in nature help children connect deeply with the physical world, supporting cognitive and emotional growth.