THE CASA THREE YEAR PROGRAM

“Montessori is great for pre-school, but my child is five, I think its time for her to start a real school.” If I do not send my child to a more traditional kindergarten program now, he will have a difficult time adjusting.”

You might have heard parents use the same words, or you might have said something similar yourself. As your child approaches five, you may well ask: How important is it to complete the three year Montessori CASA program and what will my child gain by remaining in the Montessori environment?”

The Montessori CASA curriculum is based on a three–year cycle. Each year builds upon the last one, giving the child a solid foundation. The third and final year is a culmination and integration of all the children have learned in the prepared Montessori environment. It is during this third year that the five year old child becomes a “leader” in the classroom, the one the younger and new children look up to as the “sage”. The third year allows the five year old child the opportunity to develop those leadership skills that will last a life time.

Five year olds in the Montessori classroom often help the younger children by modeling appropriate behavior and giving lessons. Current research suggests that peer teaching is very powerful for both the “teacher” and the “student”. In fact, we know that one must truly understand a subject before it can be taught to another. Like a puzzle, all the preparation given in the first two year will all comes together in the child’s third year assuming that he started at three years old.

The Montessori classroom is a very rich environment that has been specifically designed to prepare the young child to “learn how to learn”. It is developmentally appropriate. According to current brain research, hands-on experiential learning is the most effective means of helping children not just memorize but truly understand.

The concrete experiences and opportunities for exploration that the children receive in their first two years in the Montessori program prepare them for the abstract academic concepts that they learn in the third year. Montessori is not based on superficial information. It involves a real understanding of the processes in which the child is learning. For example, working with the golden bead materials lead to a deep understanding of the decimal system and mathematical operations, allowing the children to generalize information more successfully and apply it appropriately.

Normally, five year old Montessori children are independent, enthusiastic and engaged learners. They are excited about school and are generally ‘turned-on” to the learning process. They are eager to learn. Since Montessori children tend to be more confident and independent learners, they are able to adjust quickly and enjoy the challenge of their new environment.

The third year in the Montessori environment is a gift from which every child will benefit. As you decide whether to move your child to another school environment, remember the advantages of the Montessori three- year program.

Back to Newsletter