Early Childhood Education
Building Strong Foundations
Our early childhood classrooms are equipped to meet the needs of three- to six-year-olds. Every classroom creates an opportunity to work with engaging materials in a calm and welcoming space as students absorb information and form foundational impressions and habits for the future. Through early childhood education at Elizabeth Academy, children achieve early mastery of reading, writing, and math, preparing them for success in elementary school.
- Individualized Learning
- Collaborative Play
- 8:1 Teacher Ratio
Curriculum
At the early childhood level, learning happens through doing. Our carefully structured curriculum follows the natural developmental sequence of the Montessori method, guiding each child from concrete experience to deeper understanding.
Practical Life
Practical life activities are designed to develop a sense of order, encourage independence, develop concentration, fine motor control, eye-hand coordination, and care for oneself and the environment. Activities such as sorting, matching, pouring, scooping, buttoning, tying, snapping, and polishing also prepare children for learning in other subject areas.
Sensory Development
The sensorial materials develop and refine the five senses to build a foundation for speech, writing, and math. The materials are modeled from scientific concepts, like metric system dimensions or algebraic formulas. Sensory experience with these materials is the child’s first step toward understanding the abstract concepts they represent.
Language & Communication
Montessori observed that three to six-year-old children are in a “sensitive period” for absorbing spoken and written language. The language arts curriculum has many stages of development, the first being oral/auditory. Our early childhood curriculum is rich in oral language opportunities, whether listening to stories, reciting poems, singing, or conversing with others.
Mathematics
Mathematics materials and lessons help children develop a concrete understanding of abstract math concepts. Students are introduced to concepts such as the fundamentals of the decimal system, numerical place value, fractions, and the math operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division through manipulating concrete materials. This builds a secure foundation of math principles, skills, and problem-solving abilities.
Cultural Subjects
Cultural subjects are presented seasonally with specially designed materials and real-life experiences. In geography, children learn not only about the names of countries but also about the lives of people and their respective cultures. They develop a sense of respect for different cultures, recognizing that we all belong to the same family of people.
Special Focuses
Field Trips
Developmentally appropriate field trips are carefully selected to reinforce classroom learning in thematic areas of study. Many are ‘in-house” and include experiences, such as puppet shows, dance performances, and live animal experiences. Several times a year, the early childhood classrooms will go off-campus to field trip sites, such as Wheeler Farm, Discovery Gateway, or the Hogle Zoo.
Three Year Cycle
Children typically remain in an early childhood classroom for three years (including the kindergarten year), before entering our lower elementary community (Grades 1-3). The third year of early childhood is considered a capstone year that culminates in academic and social self-mastery. Third-year students learn leadership skills and prepare for a successful elementary experience.
Assessment & Parent/Teacher Conferences
Our teachers closely observe each child’s progress and readiness to move on to new lessons. They may orally question a student about what was learned, assess learning through playing games or observation, or ask the child to teach the lesson to a fellow student. We hold parent/teacher conferences twice a year so that parents may see their child’s work and hear the teacher’s assessment.
Meet Our Teachers
Academic Calendars & Admissions
We invite parents to review the Elizabeth Academy enrollment process, then schedule an in-person tour to meet faculty, explore our campus, and get all your questions answered. Visit our Parent Resources page to view the academic calendar, newsletter, family portal, parent handbook, and more.
See What Makes
Elizabeth Academy Special
To schedule a tour at either campus, or to ask questions about enrollment, please submit a request through the button below. For answers to questions not related to admissions, reach out to us through our contact form.