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Pre-School Program

2 – 3 year olds

A vibrant space where preschoolers grow socially, think creatively, and explore hands-on learning. Through practical life, sensory play, early language, and beginning math experiences, children build confidence, independence, and a joyful curiosity that carries them forward.

Montessori Academy of Virginia

Pre-School Program

Social Development and Discovery

In the Pre-School classroom, children begin to develop essential social skills by learning to play harmoniously, share, and respect the work and space of others. This stage nurtures flexibility and independence, empowering young learners to approach new experiences with confidence and ease.

Our Pre-School curriculum focuses on four key areas of development:

  • Life Skills
  • Sensory Awareness
  • Language and Sound Development
  • Beginning Numeral Skills & Creative Play

Parent partnership is essential in fostering independence. We encourage families to support their child’s growth by minimizing reliance on sippy cups, pacifiers, and constant adult intervention, helping each child discover the joy of self-reliance and confidence in their own abilities.

Building Foundational Skills for Learning

Our program focuses on academic readiness through fun, hands-on activities. Across four key areas—Life Skills, Sensory Awareness, Language, and Math—your child will develop concentration, motor skills, and an early understanding of letters and numbers, creating a strong foundation for future learning.

Nurturing Social and Personal Growth

Beyond academics, we focus on helping your child thrive socially. They will learn vital skills like playing together peacefully, sharing, and respecting others. This supportive environment helps them develop flexibility and true independence, handling new situations with growing confidence.

Fine/Gross Motor Skills/Life Skills

  • These life skill activities, though seemingly simple, strengthen each child’s focus, attention, reinforces eye-hand coordination, and develops Fine Motor skills.
  • Many of these activities isolate one particular skill, allowing children to master each skill one step at a time before advancing to more challenging lessons.
  • Students enhance their Gross Motor skills through cutting, gluing, coloring, painting, outdoor physical activities, music, and creative movement.

Discovery and Sensory Development

  • Explore the use of their five senses through matching, touching, and discriminating varying objects.
  • Discover direct experiences through the use of geometrical and mathematical dimensional sensory activities.

Language Development

  • Introduce letter sounds (as opposed to letter names) and classification of objects and pictures.
  • Children are also encouraged to sing, memorize songs, poems, etc., as a part of their Pre-Literacy Development.
  • Books are read to daily for vocabulary enrichment and comprehension.

Numeral Skills

  • With age-appropriate readiness, children are introduced to recognize numbers using numeral tracing on sandpaper.
  • After mastery of numeral recognition, the corresponding quantities of same are presented.

Tailored Learning for Every Stage of Growth

At our Montessori school, we believe in fostering independence, confidence, and a lifelong love for learning from the very beginning. Our carefully designed programs cater to each stage of your child’s development, building essential skills and a deep connection to their world.

Life Skills

Through carefully designed practical life activities, children refine fine motor skills, concentration, and eye-hand coordination. Tasks such as puzzles, beading, spooning, and pouring help them gain control of movement while also fostering independence and focus. By caring for their child-sized environment, they build habits of responsibility and attention—skills that form a strong foundation for future academics.

Sensory Awareness

Children explore their world through specially designed Montessori materials that engage all 5 senses. Matching, sorting, and classifying objects by size, shape, color, texture, and smell strengthens their ability to observe, compare, and make meaning from their environment—laying the groundwork for abstract thinking later on.

Language and Sound Development

Daily experiences in music, storytelling, and conversation nurture vocabulary and sound recognition. Singing, memorization, and reading with tactile materials help children connect spoken and written language, building phonetic awareness and early literacy skills in a joyful, natural way.

Beginning Numeral Skills and Creative Play

Early math concepts are introduced through hands-on exploration of tracing, counting, and recognizing numbers; alongside constant peer interaction, creative activities such as cutting, gluing, painting, and music. These experiences support both fine and gross motor development while promoting imagination, problem-solving, and collaboration during play and outdoor activities.

Knowledge is best given where there is eagerness to learn, so this is the period when the seed of all things can be sown, the child’s mind being like a fertile field, ready to receive what will germinate into a culture.

Dr. Maria Montessori
If you think your child would thrive in a Montessori environment, give us a call or schedule a tour

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Testimony

What people say about us

I knew instantly that this was the school for my kids. After touring a couple other places I was so impressed with how engaged the kids were yet calm. The staff have been pleasant and encouraging, and the Director has always be prompt/responsive with communication. I am so grateful for this school and for us it has been a great experience.

Mari Ballard