With the Montessori Method, preschool is not a holding pen between toddlerhood and kindergarten. It is a fully realized stage of development where children are trusted, challenged, and supported as capable learners.
According to Assistant Director Katie Beasley, the heart of the Montessori preschool experience lies in its respect for the child and the carefully prepared environment that allows curiosity, independence, and confidence to flourish.
The Brooksfield School Montessori preschool program is built around a multi-age classroom community serving children ages 3 through 6. This structure alone creates a profoundly different experience from traditional preschool models. Children have the opportunity to build relationships with both peers and educators, fostering emotional security, deep trust, and strong social bonds. Over time, the classroom becomes a true community.
Within this environment, children are immersed in a wide-ranging curriculum that supports the whole child. Practical life, sensorial exploration, mathematics, language, geography, geometry, science, outdoor education, foreign language, the arts, and physical education are all integrated into daily classroom life. These areas are not treated as isolated subjects but as interconnected experiences that reflect how children naturally learn and make sense of the world.
Child-Led Learning in the Preschool Classroom
One of the defining features of Montessori preschool is that learning is child-led rather than teacher-directed. Katie Beasley explains that children are given access to lessons that often surprise families with their depth and sophistication. Preschool students may explore the names of countries across Africa, work with all four math operations using hands-on materials, and even encounter advanced concepts through concrete experiences designed for their developmental stage.
Language instruction is equally robust. Children receive lessons pre-reading skills and early reading. Handwriting is introduced intentionally, with an emphasis on building a strong foundation for written communication rather than rushing toward rote output. In a twist on the classic Montessori formula, Brooksfield also has an Orton-Gillingham specialist on staff who works with students every day to support literacy development.
Orton-Gillingham is a distinct, research-based approach to learning to read and write that emphasizes structure, sequence, and multisensory engagement. Brooksfield was an early adopter of this method, recognizing its value as a complement to Montessori language instruction. Through visual, auditory, and tactile experiences, children build strong connections to language that support both confidence and long-term success.
Practical life work also evolves as children grow. Preschool students are introduced to advanced activities such as sewing, which require concentration, coordination, and patience. These lessons strengthen fine motor skills while reinforcing independence and self-reliance in meaningful ways.
The Power of Sensorial Learning
Sensorial learning is a cornerstone of the Montessori approach, grounded in the understanding that children learn best when multiple senses are engaged. Maria Montessori observed that concepts introduced through sight, sound, touch, and movement leave a deeper and more lasting imprint on the developing mind.
In the preschool classroom, children do not simply see letters on a page. They hear their sounds, trace their shapes on sandpaper, and connect movement with meaning. The classroom includes a dedicated sensorial area designed to refine the senses of touch, smell, taste, sound, and visual discrimination. These materials help children organize and interpret sensory input, which in turn supports cognitive development, concentration, and problem-solving.
This multisensory foundation strengthens learning across all subject areas. Whether a child is working with math materials, language objects, or geography tools, the experience is grounded in physical interaction and purposeful exploration.
Building Core Academic and Executive Skills
As children approach kindergarten within the Montessori preschool cycle, structure increases without sacrificing autonomy. Kindergarten students receive daily work plans that outline the required lessons for the day. They are free to choose the order in which they complete their work, learning how to manage time, set priorities, and follow through on responsibilities.
Each child’s work plan is individualized based on careful observation and ongoing assessment. Teachers closely monitor progress through detailed record-keeping and data collection to ensure that no child falls behind in any area. This balance of freedom and accountability helps children develop strong executive functioning skills while maintaining a sense of ownership over their learning.
Why Mixed-Age Classrooms Matter
Katie Beasley describes the mixed-age classroom as what truly makes Montessori learning special. When children remain in the same classroom community for three years, learning deepens in ways that are difficult to replicate in single-age settings.
Older children reinforce their understanding by teaching younger peers. This process builds confidence, leadership skills, and a strong sense of responsibility. At 5 years old, children are given opportunities to act as mentors and role models, experiences that are rarely available in traditional preschool environments.
Younger children benefit just as profoundly. They observe older classmates choosing challenging work, waiting patiently, and interacting respectfully with materials and peers. These behaviors are modeled not only by adults but by children themselves, making them more accessible and motivating. Montessori mixed-age classrooms can continue through high school, reflecting a philosophy that values continuity, collaboration, and shared growth.
Preparing Children for First Grade and Beyond
Preparation for first grade at Brooksfield extends beyond academics. During the fall of a child’s kindergarten year, the administrative team works closely with families to identify the best educational setting for each student’s next step. This individualized guidance considers learning styles, personality, and long-term goals.
Some families choose to continue with Montessori programs that extend into middle school, while many Brooksfield graduates move on to college preparatory schools. Academically, Brooksfield kindergarteners meet and exceed the expectations of traditional kindergarten curricula while also completing advanced Montessori work that emphasizes depth of understanding and critical thinking.
A Hands-On Approach With Strong Home Connections
Most learning in the Montessori preschool classroom is hands-on. Children work with concrete materials that make abstract concepts tangible. As lessons become more advanced, written work and worksheets are introduced as extensions, primarily for record-keeping and skill reinforcement. Math and language lessons increasingly involve writing as children progress.
There is no traditional homework, but families are encouraged to support regular reading at home. Brooksfield places a strong emphasis on parent education, offering guidance not only to parents but also to grandparents. Aligning home and school environments helps children feel supported, and consistent expectations reinforce independence and practical life skills beyond the classroom.
Communication, Teacher Training, and Ongoing Support
Communication with families is always ongoing. Teachers begin the year with introductory phone calls, followed by two formal parent-teacher conferences. Each classroom also sends a weekly newsletter to keep families informed about classroom activities, lessons, and themes.
Teacher preparation is another defining element of the Montessori approach. Educators must hold training certificates specific to the age group they teach. Preschool teachers are trained for ages 3 through 6, ensuring a deep understanding of developmental needs and appropriate instructional methods at each stage.
Learning Through Nature and Exploration
Nature plays a vital role in the Montessori preschool experience at Brooksfield. Kindergarten students participate in weekly nature adventures, visiting parks to engage in hands-on science and exploration. These outings include lessons in orienteering, rock identification, knot tying, compass and map reading, and the study of local plants and animals.
Nature offers an unmatched setting for sensorial learning. While classroom lessons provide foundational knowledge, immersion in the natural world brings concepts to life. Identifying trees in their native environment, observing birds during field trips, and studying ecosystems firsthand allows children to connect learning with lived experience.
For Montessori preschool students, nature becomes an extension of the classroom, reinforcing curiosity, respect for the environment, and a lifelong love of learning grounded in real-world discovery.
