Programs

Montessori Primary Program w/Kindergarten  8:30-2:45

JollyPlace Primary Program is a traditional Montessori program that fosters independence, discovery, and discipline. It is designed for children aged two and a half through six; however, the materials each classroom is equipped with have the capacity to advance the child into the lower elementary level. The environment is academically enriched to not only meet the developmental needs of your child but also to provide natural and holistic ways to stimulate their senses, promote higher thinking, and create self-discoveries. The sequential and self-corrective nature of the materials teaches children how to motivate themselves to learn. It gives them tools to find the personalized teaching techniques, tools that prepare them for life. Our program also draws inspiration from the teachings of Waldorf and Emilio Reggio, incorporating which into the Montessori method provides a beautiful, well-rounded, universal approach to early learning that sets the foundation for life experiences.

First & Second Year Primary Program (FSYP)~ 2.5 to 4-year-old

The First- & Second-Year Primary Program (FSYP) incorporates activities and routines that enhance the physical, psycho-social, and academic functioning of the child. Children choose their activities from self-correcting materials displayed on open shelves. These materials aid sensorial exploration that provides the basis for developing curiosity, concentration, and self-discipline. Over a period of time, the children develop into a “normalized community”. Normalization is the process whereby a child moves from being undisciplined to self-disciplined, from disordered to ordered, and from distracted to focused through work in the environment. The process occurs through repeated work with materials that captivate the child’s attention.

In the Montessori school, the following five distinct areas of development are targeted:

• Practical life: This is about enhancing the development of hand-eye coordination, gross motor control, and cognitive abilities through the care of self, care of the environment, development of social relations, and coordination of physical movement.
• Sensorial area: This involves exercises to enable the child to order, classify and describe sensory impressions in relation to length, width, temperature, mass, color, etc.
• Mathematics: Montessori method makes use of materials that children can touch, manipulate and move so they internalize concepts of numbers, symbols, sequences, operations, and memorization of basic facts.
• Language Arts: Areas targeted under this category include oral language development, written expression, reading, grammar, creative dramatics, and children’s literature. Basic skills in reading and writing are developed through the use of sandpaper letters, alphabet cut-outs, and various presentations. This teaches children to link sounds and letter symbols effortlessly and to express their thoughts through writing.
• Cultural Activities: We expose the child to the basics of geography, history, life sciences, and earth sciences. Music, art, and movement education are also parts of the integrated cultural curriculum.

Third Year Primary Program (TYP)~ 4.5 to 5-year-old – consists of Afternoon Academic Program with Kindertgarten (AAP_KG)

Children entering a Montessori program at the Third-Year level are generally entering at the end of the “early childhood” phase, prior to “lower elementary.” In a Montessori environment, a Third Year Program (TYP) program is the culmination of early childhood and a transition into elementary education, and it is applicable for students turning 5 within the year.

As with all Montessori curriculum, Third Year Program supports the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development of the child. Teachers encourage students to explore and use materials at their own developmental level and pace. The teachers thoughtfully prepare the classroom environment to invite curiosity and stimulate learning. By making independent choices, the child develops self-motivation, self-regulation, and problem-solving skills. Children move from the concrete to the abstract through manipulating, experimenting, and discovering.

Montessori Kindergarten is the time when many of the primary lessons come together and become a permanent part of the young student’s understanding. Students further develop their learning skills by working with materials that provide variations and extensions of the lessons they were introduced in the primary classroom.  In addition, in the Montessori Third Year Program, students will continue to progress at their own pace, as opposed to traditional Pre-K and/or Kindergarten, when they will have to wait while the other students begin to catch up.

The goal of the Third-Year program is to develop students who really understand their schoolwork. Learning is not focused on tote drills and memorization. Students learn through hands-on experience, investigation, and research. They become actively engaged in their studies, rather than passively waiting to be spoonfed. As a result of setting high expectations for our students, they develop self-discipline and an internal sense of purpose and motivation and that is an essential skill to perform well in future studies.

Accreditations & Licences

 JollyPlace’s Primary and Kindergarten Programs are accredited by Cognia National Accreditation Agency – www.cognia.org as recognized and certified by the Virginia Board of Education http://www.doe.virginia.gov under VAC (§22.1-19) and approved by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) http://www.dss.virginia.gov. 

Early Bird Drop off $ Extended Afternoon Time (ET)

7:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m., Monday – Friday

This program is for families to accommodate their need for earlier drop-off and later pick-up times. We offer a variety of after-school activities and plenty of outside time and games.

Hours and Location

JollyPlace is open from 7:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Monday through Friday.

JollyPlace Montessori School is a private school located 2 miles from Tysons corner in the heart of Vienna, VA. Our address is 8530 Amanda Place, Vienna, VA 22180. Our full contact information is listed under the “Contact Us” section of our website.