Class schedule: Monday through Friday, from 8:45 am to 11:40 am.

This is a group of 10 to 17 children, with one directress and one-two assistants. Our special environment is specifically designed to meet the needs of toddlers, with smaller furniture, tiled floors, lots of natural light, pictures hung low on the walls, and defined spaces to invite movement and opportunities for motor development. Throughout the year, the directress may recommend that some children in the Toddler Community move up into the Children’s House (Primary) program. The timing of this transition is based on each child’s development and readiness.

The classroom is divided into three distinct areas, with materials available that are specific to each area and the Toddler curriculum.

Manipulatives feature materials to help toddlers develop hand-eye coordination, including threading, bead-stringing, cubes on pegs, spheres on horizontal pegs, puzzles and a variety of other exercises.

Practical Life includes materials to help children learn to wash their hands, prepare and serve a snack, set and clear the table, sweep, care for plants and animals, wash dishes and clothing, polish items, clean windows, arrange flowers, glue, fold and more.

Language involves using objects, nomenclature cards and books, along with spoken vocabulary-enrichment exercises that include reading books, and other activities, including art and music.

Class schedule: Monday through Friday from 8:45 am to 11:45 am.
Extended-day students stay at school until 2:45 pm (ages 5-6).

Named for Maria Montessori’s "Casa dei Bambini" ("Children’s House"), this is MSR’s learning environment for children ages 2 1/2 to 6 years old. Montessori methods emphasize reality-based hands-on activity guided by the mind as fundamental to the development of young children. In the classroom, children choose their activities from materials displayed on shelves in specific work areas.

Over a period of time, which varies based on each child’s development, our children move into what we call a "normalized community," working with high concentration and few interruptions. "Normalization" is the process Maria Montessori termed for how a child develops from being undisciplined to self-disciplined, from disordered to orderly, and from distracted to focused--all through their work environment. The process happens through repeated experiences with materials that captivate the children’s attention. By using materials according to their ability and awareness, students learn at their own pace, according to their readiness. For some children, this inner change can take place quite suddenly, leading to deep concentration.

The Children’s House environment has five distinct areas:

Practical Life enhances the development of organizing tasks and cognitive order though self-care, care of the environment, exercises of Grace and Courtesy, and coordination of movement.

Sensorial allows children to order, classify and describe sensory impressions in relation to length, width, temperature, size, color and more. These materials help each child to become aware of their living environment.

Language includes development of speaking skills, written expression, reading, grammar, creative dramatics and children’s literature.

Mathematics makes use of materials that children manipulate to recognize and internalize the concepts of numbers, symbols, sequencing, operations and memorization of basic facts.

Cultural activities present the basics of geography, history and the life sciences. Music, art and movement are all integrated into the Cultural curriculum.

The MSR Elementary program is for children ages 6 to 9, with prior Montessori experience.
The class schedule is 5 days per week, 8:45am to 2:45pm.

Elementary children, typically, can be characterized by their questioning minds, their ability to abstract and imagine, their moral and social orientation and their unlimited energy for research and exploration. They move from the concrete through their own efforts and discovery to the abstract - thus greatly expanding their field of knowledge.

In a research style of learning, elementary children work in small groups on a variety of projects, which spark the imagination and engage the intellect. Lessons given by a trained Montessori teacher direct the children toward activities, which help them to develop reasoning abilities and learn the arts of life.

Children, at this age, are driven to understand the universe and their place in it. Our Elementary Program nurtures a child’s natural capacity to assimilate all aspects of culture. Elementary studies include geography, biology, history, language, mathematics in all its branches, science, music and art. Exploration of each area is encouraged through trips outside the classroom to community resources, such as the local library, planetarium, botanical garden, science centre, factory, hospital, etc. This inclusive approach to education fosters a feeling of connectedness to all humanity and encourages their natural desire to make contributions to the world.

Morning Day House is available Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 8:30 am for Children's House students

Vacation camps and summer camp are also available to MSR students.

The Montessori School of Rochester offers before and after school care for students enrolled in the Children’s House and Toddler program, at an additional cost. Children in our care can work on their classroom activities and other projects while guided by Montessori staff. Afternoon sessions feature music, science and foreign language. You can choose Morning Day House, Afternoon Day House or both for your child, based on your schedule.

When school breaks for the winter and spring holidays, MSR students can enjoy our vacation camp for as many days as camp is offered. And in June, July and August, our students can take advantage of Montessori activities by the day, the week or the month, for additional learning opportunities and lots of fun with their classmates. Ask us for details.