Primary & Extended Montessori Programs for Ages 3–6

Academic, Social, and Emotional Growth in a Montessori Classroom

Our Primary and Extended Montessori programs serve children aged 3 to 6, offering a structured yet flexible foundation for school and life. These mixed-age classrooms reflect one of the core strengths of the Montessori method — children learning from and with one another, guided by experienced, certified Montessori educators.


Children in our 3–6-year-old programs experience a balance of academic challenge, social-emotional development, practical life skills, and creative expression. The environment is peaceful, purposeful, and deeply respectful of the child as an individual.

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Boy smiling while playing with toys on carpet; other children and adult in background.
Teddy bear with blue bow tie, a colorful ball, a toy car, and stacking rings.
Two baby rattles, one blue and yellow, one pink and yellow.
A teacher kneels beside a student at their desk in a colorful classroom. Other students work at desks.

A Mixed-Age Environment That Encourages Mentorship and Independence

Montessori classrooms for ages 3–6 span three years, allowing children to progress at their own pace and revisit materials for deeper mastery. Younger children benefit from observing older peers, while older children reinforce their knowledge by modeling and mentoring. This structure creates:

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A sense of continuity and stability

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Leadership opportunities for older students

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Peer-to-peer learning and collaboration

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Emotional security and social confidence

Children build strong friendships, take responsibility for themselves and the environment, and develop intrinsic motivation to learn.

The Montessori Curriculum for Ages 3–6

Our classrooms are organized into distinct learning areas, each filled with hands-on Montessori materials that promote self-correction, discovery, and real-world relevance. Children choose their work independently and are guided by the teacher based on readiness, interest, and developmental need.

Key Curriculum Areas:

Language & Literacy

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Phonetic sounds, sandpaper letters, moveable alphabet

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Early writing, sentence building, and storytelling

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Object-to-picture matching, vocabulary development

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Reading comprehension and handwriting readiness

Mathematics

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Numerals and quantity recognition

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Place value, decimal system, number rods and spindle boxes

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Golden beads and bead chains for early operations

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Intro to addition, subtraction, and multiplication concepts

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Children playing soccer on a green turf field. Some wearing pink jackets, kicking balls toward the goal.
Three colorful alphabet blocks stacked, with letters A, B, and C.
Watercolor rainbow, pink, yellow, green, and blue arcs against a white background.
Two children on a couch reading books, one wearing a hat, smiling.
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Children painting with watercolors at a table. Bright colors, hands, paintbrushes, and bowls of water are visible.
Stacking rings toy with red, orange, green, blue, and yellow rings.
Three stacked square blocks: yellow with a circle, pink with a star, and green with a heart.
Children sitting in a line on grass, smiling at the camera.

Practical Life

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Pouring, spooning, folding, buttoning, sweeping

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Table washing, food preparation, and care of the environment

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Grace and courtesy lessons to model respect and kindness

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Builds fine motor control, focus, and independence

Sensorial

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Sorting, grading, and comparing by size, color, shape, texture

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Pink Tower, Brown Stair, Knobbed Cylinders, Color Tablets

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Prepares for math, geometry, and scientific observation

Cultural Studies

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Geography: continents, landforms, flags, globes, map puzzles

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History: calendars, timelines, and personal stories

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Science: nature walks, plant care, magnetism, sink/float, animal classification

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Celebrations of global customs and seasonal changes

Creative Expression

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Dramatic play, puppet shows, storytelling circles

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Music with rhythm instruments and singing

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Free painting, collage, gluing, tracing, and sketching

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Theater, costume days, and occasional in-class field trip experiences

Children may revisit the same material daily, progressing in difficulty or combining it with other work as their understanding grows. The teacher observes carefully, introducing new lessons at the right time.

A Typical Day in the Primary & Extended Programs

Our day is structured with a consistent rhythm, allowing for both freedom and responsibility.

Sample Daily Schedule:

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Arrival & Greeting

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Independent Work Cycle (children choose activities across all subject areas)

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Individual or Small Group Lessons with the teacher

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Snack Time (prepared and cleaned up by the children)

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Outdoor Play or Indoor Gross Motor Activities

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Lunch & Cleanup

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Rest Time (for younger children) or Afternoon Enrichment (for older children)

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Extended Day Activities (drama, seasonal crafts, science experiments)

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Dismissal

We provide indoor physical activities (balance beam, movement mat) for inclement weather days and always prioritize fresh air and outdoor play when possible.

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People crafting with colorful paper and supplies at a table.
Blue and pink baby footprints with hearts, stars, and a white background.
Two crayons: one light blue, one red.
Children and teacher in classroom with colorful lion decor, playing with balls.

Extended Programs for Working Families

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Our Extended Montessori Program offers full-day care in an enriched learning environment. For families who need longer hours, we provide extended activities without compromising the Montessori experience.


  • All-Day Program: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • School-Day Program: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Half-Day Option: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Part-Time & Full-Time available based on your schedule
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Minimum Days Required:


  • 3-year-olds: 3 days/week
  • 4-year-olds: 4 days/week
  • 5-year-olds: 5 days/week

Older students often participate in group projects, holiday preparation, and creative dramatics during the extended afternoon hours.

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Executive functioning skills

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Focus and persistence

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Internal motivation and decision-making

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Empathy and leadership

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The ability to transition into elementary school with confidence

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Montessori of Woodridge emphasizes real-world readiness alongside academic growth. Our primary-aged students learn to clean up after meals, care for classroom plants, sweep floors, and collaborate on tasks. They gain:

Real-Life Skills for Confident, Capable Learners

When asked who taught them to read or count, children often reply, “I taught myself.” That’s the power of Montessori.

Visit Our Primary Classrooms

We welcome you to schedule a tour and see how our 3–6-year-old classrooms prepare children not only for school — but for life.
Montessori of Woodridge

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6953 Woodridge Drive, Woodridge, IL 60517

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Class Hours: Begin at 9:00 AM

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Pat Whyte also leads the administrative team, overseeing all aspects of program coordination, staffing, and curriculum implementation. Her decades of Montessori training span age groups from 3–12, and her influence is present in every beautifully prepared classroom at our school.



Jim Whyte assists with daily operations, building maintenance, purchasing, meal prep, and office support. His presence ensures smooth logistics and a safe, well-maintained school environment.

Administrative Leadership

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Child drawing with crayons on a white surface, wooden toys nearby.
Children eating fruit at a pink table in a brightly-lit preschool classroom.
Children raising hands in a classroom, looking at something.
Teacher high-fives a smiling Black child at a blue table in a classroom. Other children work at the table.
Child coloring a mandala with a blue crayon, surrounded by a jar of crayons and a partially colored design.