A typical day at San Anselmo Montessori Preschool begins with 30 minutes of outside play. During outside play, children develop and master gross and fine motor skills while exploring the play structure, swings, monkey bars and riding tricycles. Socials skills are developed and refined in the sandbox and around the playground through peer interaction. Time on the swings and play structure also lets the children get out excess energy before entering the classroom.

At SAMS, the kindergarten year marks the end of an important development phase and the beginning of what Maria Montessori called the “explosion into learning.” In their third year at SAMS, kindergarteners experience mastery and control over the skills and concepts they’ve practiced during their two previous primary years. This mastery, along with their position as the oldest students, solidifies the students’ self-esteem and develops their leadership skills. SAMS full-day kindergarten curriculum includes units that combine language, math, art, science, geography, history and movement in subject specific. A low student/teacher ratio allows highly personalized teaching as students learn academic skills such as reading, writing and arithmetic using classic Montessori materials.