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Important Dates

Early Release
12/22/2023
Christmas Day - CLOSED
12/25/2023
New Year's day - CLOSED
01/01/2024

Our Programs

Montessori for infants involves creating a safe and interactive environment that allows them to practice skills such as grasping, crawling, and walking. By providing age-appropriate toys and materials, teachers guide infants develop their sensory and large and small motor skills, as well as their cognitive abilities.

A Montessori classroom for toddlers safely supports a child’s drive to do things independently, developing confidence and a sense of competence. This is the time for children to explore and discover through active play. In addition, our educators give toddlers responsive, individualized attention to help build skills in:

  • Sensory and Perception
  • Self-help
  • Language
  • Physical and Motor Skills
  • Social and Emotional Growth
  • Music and Art
  • Language
  • Science
  • Math
  • Geography

In our classroom for 2-year-olds, children begin to do more complex multi-step work. This prepares them for our preschool class. They learn a basic sense of quantity and numbers and simple research into animals. Teachers also create station learning for many sensory and motor materials, which focus on identifying and continuing patterns.

The Montessori Pre-K program offers a unique, mixed-age classroom environment, for children approximately 3 to 5 years old. Children engage in individual learning experiences, as well as one-on-one interactions.

As children get older, they tend to see things that adults find ordinary as very interesting and special. Practical life exercises like sorting, pouring, or washing dishes absorb them completely.

We recognize this as the beginning of control and coordination of mind and body. That’s why Pre-K teachers focus lessons around tangible, hands-on experiences.

Children use concrete materials to learn math; movable alphabet letters to explore language; and cubes, cylinders and other objects to categorize, find spatial relationships, and more. Practical learning experiences explore key subjects including:

  • Science and Nature
  • Music and Movement
  • Sensorial
  • Cooking and Nutrition
  • Cultural Awareness
  • History
  • Geography
  • Language Arts
  • Mathematics

Transportation is provided by our First School bus to and from Manhattan Public Schools for the Before and After School-age Program. During this program, students have homework time, snack time, and activities.

MISSION: Our goal at First School is to help each child reach their full potential. Activities and instructional materials are scientifically designed to provide a variety of learning experiences which promote the development of social skills, emotional growth, and physical coordination as well as cognitive preparation. The holistic curriculum, under the direction of a well-trained teacher, allows the child to experience the joy of learning through hands-on activities. It also ensures the development of self-esteem and provides the experiences from which children create their knowledge.

The Latest From First School

Who Is First School For?

Who Is First School For?

Our classrooms provide a supportive and inclusive environment that fosters the holistic development of each child, regardless of their individual traits and preferences.

read more

The Montessori Mafia

The idea behind the term “Montessori Mafia” is not to suggest any criminal activity or secretive organization but rather to emphasize the impressive track record of Montessori-educated individuals in various fields.

read more

Who Is First School For?

Our classrooms provide a supportive and inclusive environment that fosters the holistic development of each child, regardless of their individual traits and preferences.

read more

Location

25610 S. Gougar Rd.,
Manhattan IL 60442

School Hours

M-F: 6:30am - 6pm
Weekends: Closed

Phone & Email

Our Director

It’s not about us, it’s about the child.. We are building a child with tools for their own growth. I believe that we are trying to build Independent learners, confident kids, and life-long learners to leave their environment better than they found it.

My favorite quote by Maria Montessori states, “The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say, “The children are now working as if I do not exist.

Sarah Stoliker

Director and Owner

Schedule a Tour! See First School in Person!

815-478-6001

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