Toddler

St. James provides a rich Montessori five day a week toddler program.  The Toddler program is a 10 month based school year beginning in August and concluding in May.  There are no summer sessions.  We have four classrooms; our smaller classrooms house ten toddlers and our two larger classrooms hold fourteen children.  We have a 6:1 ratio, with a lead teacher and assistant(s).  St. James offers a half day and a full day program.

The Toddler Curriculum

The Montessori curriculum was designed with sensitive periods in mind.  We focus on care of self and care of environment, relying on the toddler’s “do it myself” mode of thinking to increase their own independence.  A simple lesson, setting one’s place mat for snack, has a rhythm, sequence and order.  It builds throughout the year into a full sequence of preparing and serving the snack, staying seated to eat the snack, cleaning off one’s plate when finished, wiping off the place mat, returning items where they belong, washing the dishes, washing the cloth napkins, hanging them to dry, ironing and folding the napkins, and finally, preparing the shelf of table setting for the next day.

We present lessons as a group and individually.  We are sensitive to the child’s need for focus.  Even while presenting a lesson, minimal words are spoken so that the focus is trained on the lesson.  The teachers track the works each child chooses.  We observe when the child is ready for the next work, or if they need more time to master the particular skill.

Our toddlers begin the Episcopal journey through a hands-on felt-board, where we sequence monthly stories from the Bible.  Prayers and blessings are an important part of our day!  Fr. Jonathan visits each classroom monthly to lift up the children's prayer requests and offer birthday blessings.

Gross motor is key for the toddler.  Works in the classroom encourage movement with a purpose.  Our Natural Playground allows for toddlers to practice balancing, climbing and running.  Our Children’s Garden not only is a place for walking paths, digging, planting and harvesting.  the garden also is a place that reveals the power of God's creation as we actively participate in the life cycle of the butterfly and the seed.

Toddler Schedule

8:00am - 8:35am Children Arrive: Change into Crocs, Potty Time and Hand Washing
8:35am - 9:35am Outside Play Time
9:35am - 9:55am Potty Time, Hand Washing, and Group Snack
10:00am - 11:45am Individual Work Time, Circle Time, Cooking, and Gardening
11:45am - 12:00pm Music, Yoga, and Circle Time
11:45am - 12:00pm Half Day Students Depart
12:00pm - 12:45pm Lunch Time
12:45pm - 1:00pm Potty Time and Hand Washing
1:00pm - 3:00pm Nap Time
2:45pm - 3:00pm Wake Up, Potty Time and Story Time
3:00pm - 3:45pm - Dismissal from Classroom
3:45pm - 6:00pm - After School Care