Philosophy & Program
At Aria Montessori School, we provide a nurturing and thoughtfully prepared environment for potty-independent children ages 2 through kindergarten readiness. We are guided by the Montessori method, our approach recognizes that the years before age six are the most formative in a child's life—when their minds are most absorbent and eager to explore.
Our experienced teachers serve as gentle guides, encouraging each child’s independence and natural curiosity. We cultivate classrooms filled with calm, order, and joy—spaces where children are free to make choices, engage in meaningful work, and develop concentration, confidence, and a sense of purpose.
Each day, lessons and Montessori materials are introduced based on careful observation of every child’s needs, interests, and readiness. Our educators are skilled in knowing when to step back and observe, and when to offer support, allowing each child’s learning journey to unfold at their own pace.
We believe every child enters the world with unique gifts and boundless potential. Through hands-on exploration, appropriate challenges, and freedom within structure, children at Aria grow socially, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually.
Just as important, we value the parent-school partnership. Parents are a child’s first and most vital teachers, and we welcome families into the life of our school. When children see their parents engaged and at ease in the learning environment, it deepens their connection and confidence.
At Aria Montessori, we are committed to fostering independence, joy, and lifelong learning—one child at a time.
Our experienced teachers serve as gentle guides, encouraging each child’s independence and natural curiosity. We cultivate classrooms filled with calm, order, and joy—spaces where children are free to make choices, engage in meaningful work, and develop concentration, confidence, and a sense of purpose.
Each day, lessons and Montessori materials are introduced based on careful observation of every child’s needs, interests, and readiness. Our educators are skilled in knowing when to step back and observe, and when to offer support, allowing each child’s learning journey to unfold at their own pace.
We believe every child enters the world with unique gifts and boundless potential. Through hands-on exploration, appropriate challenges, and freedom within structure, children at Aria grow socially, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually.
Just as important, we value the parent-school partnership. Parents are a child’s first and most vital teachers, and we welcome families into the life of our school. When children see their parents engaged and at ease in the learning environment, it deepens their connection and confidence.
At Aria Montessori, we are committed to fostering independence, joy, and lifelong learning—one child at a time.
The young child is attracted to activities that give them independence and control of their own life. Special materials enable them to tie, button, snap and use fastening devices. The purpose of these exercises is to develop concentration and attention to detail as they follow a regular sequence of action, finishing each task and putting away all the materials before going onto another activity.
Another important need of the young child is to develop muscles and coordinate movement through such practical life exercises as sweeping, polishing, carrying water, pouring and washing a table. These activities provide the very foundation on which the child approaches more intricate academic exercises.
Another important need of the young child is to develop muscles and coordinate movement through such practical life exercises as sweeping, polishing, carrying water, pouring and washing a table. These activities provide the very foundation on which the child approaches more intricate academic exercises.
At Aria Montessori School, Sensorial Exercises play a crucial role in helping young children refine their senses, which are key to their cognitive development. These exercises engage the senses of sight, touch, sound, smell, and taste, enabling children to classify and understand the world around them. Sensorial activities introduce children to concepts such as color, shape, texture, size, and volume through hands-on materials, allowing them to observe differences and similarities, fostering pattern recognition, and developing keen observational skills. These foundational skills are essential as they prepare children for more advanced academic learning by enhancing their focus and attention to detail.
The materials used in Sensorial Exercises are carefully designed to isolate each sense and focus on a single quality, enabling children to sharpen their perception without distraction. For example, the Pink Tower introduces the concept of size and volume, while the Color Tablets help children distinguish and classify different shades of color. By engaging with materials like the Knobbed Cylinders or Sound Cylinders, children learn to identify differences in weight, sound, and texture. These exercises help build vocabulary as children learn descriptive language for their experiences, and the repetitive actions within the exercises reinforce memory, concentration, and motor control.
Beyond sensory refinement, Sensorial Exercises cultivate a child’s natural sense of curiosity and joy in discovery, allowing them to engage deeply with their environment. These activities provide a concrete way for children to interact with abstract concepts, bridging their understanding between tangible experiences and mental reasoning. In a calm and nurturing classroom setting, children become active participants in their own learning process, developing a lifelong foundation for inquiry and exploration that extends well beyond the early years of Montessori education.
The materials used in Sensorial Exercises are carefully designed to isolate each sense and focus on a single quality, enabling children to sharpen their perception without distraction. For example, the Pink Tower introduces the concept of size and volume, while the Color Tablets help children distinguish and classify different shades of color. By engaging with materials like the Knobbed Cylinders or Sound Cylinders, children learn to identify differences in weight, sound, and texture. These exercises help build vocabulary as children learn descriptive language for their experiences, and the repetitive actions within the exercises reinforce memory, concentration, and motor control.
Beyond sensory refinement, Sensorial Exercises cultivate a child’s natural sense of curiosity and joy in discovery, allowing them to engage deeply with their environment. These activities provide a concrete way for children to interact with abstract concepts, bridging their understanding between tangible experiences and mental reasoning. In a calm and nurturing classroom setting, children become active participants in their own learning process, developing a lifelong foundation for inquiry and exploration that extends well beyond the early years of Montessori education.
The Montessori materials for mathematics introduce the concept of quality and the symbols for quality for the numbers 1 through 100. The quantity is introduced by a series of rods which the child can count and compare. Children match sets of symbol cards with the rods.
Using a variety of beads and symbol cards, the child becomes familiar with the numbers as the decimal system. The child therefore has concrete experiences with the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
These exercises not only teach the child to calculate, but they provide a deep understanding of how numbers function. While learning concrete mathematical concepts, the materials guide the child to the abstract, so that the child’s understanding has substance. Because of the concrete nature of the materials, the child is able work with the basic concepts of fractions, geometry and algebra.
Using a variety of beads and symbol cards, the child becomes familiar with the numbers as the decimal system. The child therefore has concrete experiences with the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
These exercises not only teach the child to calculate, but they provide a deep understanding of how numbers function. While learning concrete mathematical concepts, the materials guide the child to the abstract, so that the child’s understanding has substance. Because of the concrete nature of the materials, the child is able work with the basic concepts of fractions, geometry and algebra.
In the Montessori approach, Language Exercises are designed to develop children's communication skills, vocabulary, and reading and writing abilities in a natural and progressive way. These exercises encourage children to express themselves confidently and engage deeply with language from an early age. Montessori Language Exercises begin with activities that refine children’s listening skills and understanding of sounds, helping them to distinguish the unique sounds in words (phonetic awareness), which is a fundamental step toward reading. By focusing on phonetic sounds rather than letter names, children build a strong foundation for decoding language independently.
To support this phonetic learning, Montessori classrooms use hands-on materials such as Sandpaper Letters, which children trace to learn the shapes and sounds of letters through both tactile and auditory feedback. The Moveable Alphabet, another essential tool, allows children to form words before they have developed the fine motor skills for writing, helping them bridge the gap between spoken and written language. As children progress, they begin working with word-building and reading activities that further develop their ability to recognize and understand language patterns, sentence structure, and grammar. This gradual progression encourages confidence, enabling children to express themselves clearly and comprehend written material with ease.
The goal of Language Exercises is not only to develop literacy but to foster a love for language that extends into lifelong learning. By encouraging children to explore language at their own pace, Montessori teachers cultivate a nurturing environment that celebrates each child’s progress, allowing them to flourish as confident communicators. This strong language foundation supports success in all areas of learning and builds self-expression skills that enable children to connect with others, share ideas, and engage meaningfully with the world around them.
To support this phonetic learning, Montessori classrooms use hands-on materials such as Sandpaper Letters, which children trace to learn the shapes and sounds of letters through both tactile and auditory feedback. The Moveable Alphabet, another essential tool, allows children to form words before they have developed the fine motor skills for writing, helping them bridge the gap between spoken and written language. As children progress, they begin working with word-building and reading activities that further develop their ability to recognize and understand language patterns, sentence structure, and grammar. This gradual progression encourages confidence, enabling children to express themselves clearly and comprehend written material with ease.
The goal of Language Exercises is not only to develop literacy but to foster a love for language that extends into lifelong learning. By encouraging children to explore language at their own pace, Montessori teachers cultivate a nurturing environment that celebrates each child’s progress, allowing them to flourish as confident communicators. This strong language foundation supports success in all areas of learning and builds self-expression skills that enable children to connect with others, share ideas, and engage meaningfully with the world around them.
To enrich the learning journey at Aria, each day we highlight a different area of our extended curriculum—offering children diverse opportunities to explore art, music, movement, language, and culture.
Intro to Spanish
At Aria Montessori School, we introduce our young learners to the Spanish language through gentle, engaging, and age-appropriate experiences that naturally spark curiosity and joy. For children under 5, language acquisition is most effective when it happens organically—through play, repetition, and immersion in a rich, supportive environment.
Our Spanish program blends seamlessly into the daily rhythm of the classroom. Children are introduced to basic vocabulary through songs, movement games, storytelling, and hands-on materials. Common topics include greetings, colors, numbers, animals, family members, and everyday phrases—presented in ways that feel like play, not formal lessons.
Because this age group learns best through repetition and routine, our teachers incorporate Spanish into familiar moments like circle time, snack, or transitions. This helps build a natural association between the words and their meaning. We also use visual aids, puppets, and Montessori materials labeled in both English and Spanish to strengthen understanding.
The goal is not fluency, but joyful exposure—planting the seeds for a lifelong interest in languages and other cultures. Children develop a sense of comfort and confidence with the sounds and rhythm of Spanish, all while having fun and building their listening and memory skills.
At Aria, we believe that introducing a second language early in life helps nurture open-mindedness, cognitive flexibility, and global awareness—qualities that align beautifully with the Montessori philosophy.
Our Spanish program blends seamlessly into the daily rhythm of the classroom. Children are introduced to basic vocabulary through songs, movement games, storytelling, and hands-on materials. Common topics include greetings, colors, numbers, animals, family members, and everyday phrases—presented in ways that feel like play, not formal lessons.
Because this age group learns best through repetition and routine, our teachers incorporate Spanish into familiar moments like circle time, snack, or transitions. This helps build a natural association between the words and their meaning. We also use visual aids, puppets, and Montessori materials labeled in both English and Spanish to strengthen understanding.
The goal is not fluency, but joyful exposure—planting the seeds for a lifelong interest in languages and other cultures. Children develop a sense of comfort and confidence with the sounds and rhythm of Spanish, all while having fun and building their listening and memory skills.
At Aria, we believe that introducing a second language early in life helps nurture open-mindedness, cognitive flexibility, and global awareness—qualities that align beautifully with the Montessori philosophy.
Cooking & Practical Life Skills
At Aria Montessori School, cooking is more than just a fun activity—it’s an essential part of our Practical Life curriculum that nurtures independence, concentration, coordination, and confidence in young children. In our thoughtfully prepared program, even our youngest learners are guided through age-appropriate food preparation tasks, such as washing fruits and vegetables, spreading, slicing with child-safe tools, pouring, mixing, and measuring.
Through these daily experiences, children develop fine motor skills, sequencing abilities, and a lifelong appreciation for healthy eating habits. They also cultivate social skills like cooperation, sharing, and practicing grace and courtesy around the table.
We are proud to share a special piece of our history: Julia Child, the beloved American chef and educator, attended our Montessori school from ages 3 to 9. She often spoke fondly of her time here, where even the smallest hands were empowered in the kitchen. Inspired by her legacy, we encourage our students to discover the joy of preparing food and take pride in contributing meaningfully to their community.
In the spirit of Dr. Montessori and Julia Child alike, we believe that offering children real, purposeful work—including cooking—fosters not only practical skills, but also a deep sense of dignity, independence, and self-worth.
Through these daily experiences, children develop fine motor skills, sequencing abilities, and a lifelong appreciation for healthy eating habits. They also cultivate social skills like cooperation, sharing, and practicing grace and courtesy around the table.
We are proud to share a special piece of our history: Julia Child, the beloved American chef and educator, attended our Montessori school from ages 3 to 9. She often spoke fondly of her time here, where even the smallest hands were empowered in the kitchen. Inspired by her legacy, we encourage our students to discover the joy of preparing food and take pride in contributing meaningfully to their community.
In the spirit of Dr. Montessori and Julia Child alike, we believe that offering children real, purposeful work—including cooking—fosters not only practical skills, but also a deep sense of dignity, independence, and self-worth.
Music and Movement
At Aria, our music and movement program is designed to engage young children through joyful exploration of sound, rhythm, and expression. Each month, classes focus on a different composer—both modern and classical—giving children the chance to explore music through the lives and works of inspiring figures from history and the present day.
Our daily lessons include singing familiar and new songs, rhythm games, dancing, clapping patterns, and experimenting with simple percussion instruments like tambourines, shakers, and rhythm sticks. These playful activities help children develop a sense of rhythm, melody, and musical structure in a natural, intuitive way.
Children are encouraged to move freely and creatively, building body awareness, coordination, and confidence. From marching to a steady drumbeat to swaying with scarves to a calming tune, music and movement time nurtures both the mind and body.
Our goal is to foster a lifelong love for music while supporting each child's emotional, cognitive, and physical development—one joyful note at a time.
Our daily lessons include singing familiar and new songs, rhythm games, dancing, clapping patterns, and experimenting with simple percussion instruments like tambourines, shakers, and rhythm sticks. These playful activities help children develop a sense of rhythm, melody, and musical structure in a natural, intuitive way.
Children are encouraged to move freely and creatively, building body awareness, coordination, and confidence. From marching to a steady drumbeat to swaying with scarves to a calming tune, music and movement time nurtures both the mind and body.
Our goal is to foster a lifelong love for music while supporting each child's emotional, cognitive, and physical development—one joyful note at a time.
Exploring Art Through the Masters
At Aria Montessori School, our monthly art program introduces children under 5 to the world of visual art through the works and techniques of great artists. Each month, we focus on a different artist—such as Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, or Alma Thomas—allowing the children to explore a variety of styles, colors, and creative methods.
Through age-appropriate projects, students learn how to observe and experiment with line, color, shape, and texture. Whether it's swirling brushstrokes inspired by Van Gogh or collage techniques influenced by Matisse, children are encouraged to express themselves freely while developing fine motor skills, visual awareness, and an appreciation for creativity.
This program not only nurtures artistic exploration but also introduces young learners to cultural and historical contexts in a playful, hands-on way. The focus is always on the joy of creating and discovering new ways to see the world—just like real artists.
Through age-appropriate projects, students learn how to observe and experiment with line, color, shape, and texture. Whether it's swirling brushstrokes inspired by Van Gogh or collage techniques influenced by Matisse, children are encouraged to express themselves freely while developing fine motor skills, visual awareness, and an appreciation for creativity.
This program not only nurtures artistic exploration but also introduces young learners to cultural and historical contexts in a playful, hands-on way. The focus is always on the joy of creating and discovering new ways to see the world—just like real artists.
Field Trip Fridays – Exploring the World from Our Classroom
Every Friday at Aria Montessori School, our students embark on a virtual field trip, allowing them to explore the vibrant cultures, traditions, and daily life of people from around the world—all from the comfort of their classroom. These experiences are designed to ignite curiosity, foster global awareness, and encourage respect for cultural diversity.
Each virtual trip highlights a different country or region, incorporating multiple areas of learning such as geography, language, music, food, art, architecture, and traditional celebrations. Children might “visit” the bustling markets of Morocco, explore the rainforests of Brazil, or enjoy a traditional dance from Japan—broadening their understanding of the world and their place in it.
This program supports Montessori principles by encouraging observation, sparking meaningful questions, and offering opportunities for hands-on follow-up activities like cooking, crafts, songs, and storytelling related to the culture explored.
Through these engaging and enriching global journeys, children develop not only knowledge but also empathy, open-mindedness, and a sense of connection to our shared human experience.
Each virtual trip highlights a different country or region, incorporating multiple areas of learning such as geography, language, music, food, art, architecture, and traditional celebrations. Children might “visit” the bustling markets of Morocco, explore the rainforests of Brazil, or enjoy a traditional dance from Japan—broadening their understanding of the world and their place in it.
This program supports Montessori principles by encouraging observation, sparking meaningful questions, and offering opportunities for hands-on follow-up activities like cooking, crafts, songs, and storytelling related to the culture explored.
Through these engaging and enriching global journeys, children develop not only knowledge but also empathy, open-mindedness, and a sense of connection to our shared human experience.
8AM - GOOD MORNING, SCHOOL OPENS
8:00 am
8:30 am
8:30 am
Indoor play; all children need to arrive at school no later than 8:55 am as the bell will ring promptly at 9:00 am.
8:30 am
8:50 am
8:50 am
Parents allowed in backyard. Must leave by 8:50am.
9:00 am
10:15 am
10:15 am
Montessori Session 1
10:15 am
10:45 am
10:45 am
Outdoor playtime
10:45 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
Storytime
11:00 am
12:30 pm
12:30 pm
Lunch and outdoor play.
12:30 pm
2:30 pm
2:30 pm
Nap time
12:30 pm
1:00 pm
1:00 pm
Rest time
1:00 pm
2:30 pm
2:30 pm
Montessori Session 2
2:30 pm
3:00 pm
3:00 pm
Outdoor play
3:00 pm
3:15 pm
3:15 pm
Snack time
AFTERNOON ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
3:15 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Intro to Spanish, Cooking & Practical Life Skills, Music and Movement, Exploring Art Through the Masters, or Field Trip Fridays – Exploring the World from Our Classroom
4:00 pm
5:00 pm
5:00 pm
Outdoor / Indoor play
5PM - GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL CLOSES
Morning Routine and Drop-Off Guidelines
Our school day begins promptly at 9:00 AM, when the children enter their classroom. During this time, the daily helper is chosen, and roll call is taken. A smooth and timely start is essential for setting our students up for a successful day, so we encourage everyone to arrive on time.
Restrictions
We are a NUT FREE SCHOOL Please do not send your child with any form of nuts, nut butters, granola bars or any product containing nuts. No glass or tin containers.