Montessori Pre-K Program
Our Montessori pre-k program offers a warm, purposeful next step for your little learner during one of the richest periods of early childhood development. At International Montessori Academy, children ages 4-5 step into a beautifully prepared classroom where curiosity expands, independence deepens, and learning becomes joyful, meaningful, and wonderfully self-directed. Guided by the Montessori method and inspired by Dr. Maria Montessori's insight that the early years shape a child's future understanding of the world, our Montessori pre-k classrooms give your child room to explore, question, create, and grow with confidence. Each day, our Pre-K students engage in hands-on learning, bilingual or dual-language immersion, and the foundational academic lessons that prepare them for kindergarten and beyond. With guides who truly understand this developmental stage and a community that supports each child's individuality, families feel the care, intention, and heart that define our Pre-K experience.
Schedule a tour, visit our Montessori school, and experience the calm, joyful learning environment that makes our Pre-K program so special.
We Offer a World-Class Curriculum That Inspires Students to Make an Impact
We provide full-time programs for children between the ages of 12 months and 2nd grade. By pairing our advanced academic curriculum with an engaging learning environment, our programs are designed to provide students with a deep understanding and effective application of knowledge. We are committed to delivering high-quality educational programs to local families. We have three campuses in the Seattle and Bellevue area, offering exceptional children's education programs.
Montessori Pre-K Program Enrollment
Ages Served
Children ages 4 to 5 years old
Location
Pre-K classrooms are available at all three IMA campuses: West Bellevue, Eastgate, and Capitol Hill.
Schedule Options
Full-day schedules are available.
Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:30 PM
Potty Training Required
Yes, children attending Pre-K should be potty trained.
Curriculum Focus
Our Montessori pre-K curriculum builds early foundations in reading, writing, math, cultural studies, and language development through hands-on learning, rich conversations, and thoughtfully sequenced Montessori materials. Children learn letter sounds, combine sounds into words, explore foundational math concepts, and deepen practical skills that support independence and self-confidence. Every lesson is designed to nurture critical thinking, strengthen fine motor skills, and prepare children for a successful transition into Montessori kindergarten.
Daily Routine
Each day, circle time, independent work cycles, targeted lessons in math and language arts, cultural studies, outdoor play, phonics work, practical life activities, Sound-of-the-Week practice, and warm moments of collaboration with peers.
Classroom Experience
In our Montessori classrooms, children ages 4-5 thrive in peaceful, beautifully arranged learning environments with open shelves, real materials, and child-sized spaces that encourage autonomy. Our Montessori guides offer individualized lessons, gentle guidance, and support to help your child move confidently through academic, social, and emotional milestones.
About Our Montessori Pre-K Program
Families often ask how Pre-K supports a child who is growing rapidly into early academic skills. At International Montessori Academy, we embrace this exciting stage with a program rooted in the Montessori method and built around bilingual immersion, foundational literacy, early mathematics, social development, and hands-on exploration. Our Montessori classrooms provide uninterrupted work cycles, practical life lessons that build independence, and a classroom environment where children follow their interests and learn at their own pace. This approach, as guided by the Association Montessori Internationale, helps children develop strong problem-solving abilities, emotional resilience, and a lifelong love of learning.
From Age 4 to Age 5: Child Development Support For Every Stage
Pre-K students are eager thinkers, builders, storytellers, and experimenters. Our pre-k international program meets them right where they are, curious, capable, and ready for deeper learning.
Sensorial Development
In our Pre-K classrooms, your child explores sensorial materials that help refine touch, sight, sound, and movement while strengthening concentration and early critical thinking. These purposeful activities form the bridge to the more advanced math, literacy, and cultural studies work.
Freedom of Movement & Gross Motor Skills
Our Pre-K environment gives your child the freedom to move confidently, walking, balancing, carrying materials, and engaging in purposeful movement throughout the day. This independence is deeply connected to our Pre-K curriculum, where children transition between work areas, participate in themed units, and develop the physical readiness needed for writing, practical life work, and early math activities.
Fine Motor Development
In our Pre-K program, your child strengthens fine motor skills through tracing, cutting, beadwork, early handwriting practice, and the careful use of Montessori materials. These activities support pre-writing, pencil grip, and hand control, foundational skills needed for the formal literacy and math progressions introduced in the Pre-K afternoon sequence.
Early Language Foundations
Our Pre-K classrooms surround your child with rich language experiences, songs, stories, conversation, phonics work, and meaningful Sound-of-the-Week lessons. These experiences help children learn letter sounds, combine sounds, build vocabulary, and strengthen early reading skills, preparing them beautifully for kindergarten-level literacy.
Practical Life: Confidence & Independence
In our Pre-K classrooms, your child continues to develop practical life skills, such as preparing food, organizing materials, caring for plants, and managing multi-step tasks, while building confidence, concentration, and responsibility. These lessons support the growing independence needed for new academic expectations as children begin formal math and language arts work.
Emotional Security & Social Development
Our Pre-K environments are warm, calm, and community-centered, giving your child space to build friendships, practice collaboration, and express emotions with confidence. Group projects, circle discussions, and shared responsibilities deepen social skills and empathy as children learn how to work together and communicate respectfully.
Executive Functioning & Problem-Solving
Every day in our Pre-K classrooms, your child engages in learning activities that strengthen reasoning, sequencing, planning, and early logic through puzzles, math manipulatives, themed projects, and hands-on lessons. These experiences prepare children for kindergarten by nurturing flexible thinking, early academic readiness, and the confidence to approach new challenges.
Peaceful Routines & Natural Rhythms
Our Pre-K programs follow calm, consistent routines that help children feel secure and ready to learn, from morning language immersion to afternoon literacy and math blocks. These rhythms support emotional regulation, focus, and joyful engagement as your child moves through increasingly complex academic work.
Exploration Through Prepared Environments
Our Pre-K classrooms are thoughtfully prepared with open shelves, defined learning areas, child-sized tools, and Montessori materials that encourage independence and curiosity. As children explore this environment, they build the focus, responsibility, and self-directed learning habits they will carry into kindergarten and beyond.
Our Montessori Pre-K Program Enrollment and Registration
We'd love to welcome your family into our Montessori Pre-K community. Learn more about our admissions and enrollment process, and schedule a tour to see our Montessori Pre-K program in action.
Why Families Trust International Montessori Academy
Families choose International Montessori Academy because our three campuses offer a gentle, research-based transition between preschool and kindergarten. Our Pre-K classrooms honor each child's developmental needs while preparing them academically, socially, and emotionally for the next stage of their education.
We offer:
- Montessori-trained guides who deeply understand child development and the Montessori method.
- Montessori Pre-K classrooms are designed to encourage independence, collaboration, and joyful learning.
- Dual-language and immersion options that strengthen bilingual language skills during the most sensitive stage for acquisition.
- A globally minded Pre-K curriculum blending academics, cultural studies, and self-directed learning.
- Accredited through the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), our school upholds the highest standards of quality, safety, and educational excellence.
- A nurturing school-family partnership built on open communication and shared goals for your child.
Together, these elements reflect our mission: to cultivate confident, curious, compassionate young learners who thrive in kindergarten and beyond.
A Private Montessori School Serving West Bellevue, Eastgate, and Capitol Hill
We'd love for you to experience what makes our Montessori schools so special. Visit our campuses, meet the guides who will nurture your child's growth and education. Start your admissions journey today and see how beautifully your child can thrive at International Montessori Academy.
Other Montessori Programs Available at Our Locations
Our Montessori toddler program offers a nurturing start across all our campuses, where little learners build independence, language skills, and motor development through hands-on, bilingual exploration.
The Montessori preschool program lays a joyful foundation for early academics, cultural awareness, and growing confidence through hands-on learning across all our campuses.
Our Montessori kindergarten program bridges early childhood and elementary learning with rich bilingual experiences and increasing academic responsibility at our West Bellevue campus.
The Montessori lower elementary program supports children ages 6 to 8 as they deepen critical thinking, cultural understanding, and independence through hands-on exploration at our West Bellevue campus.
In our Spanish Immersion program, children learn Spanish naturally through daily conversation, stories, routines, and culturally rich experiences supported by native-speaking guides.
In our Mandarin immersion classrooms, children hear and use Mandarin throughout the day, building strong language foundations through real-world, meaningful interactions.
Other Montessori Programs Available at Our Locations
Our Montessori toddler program offers a nurturing start across all our campuses, where little learners build independence, language skills, and motor development through hands-on, bilingual exploration.
The Montessori preschool program lays a joyful foundation for early academics, cultural awareness, and growing confidence through hands-on learning across all our campuses.
Our Montessori kindergarten program bridges early childhood and elementary learning with rich bilingual experiences and increasing academic responsibility at our West Bellevue campus.
The Montessori lower elementary program supports children ages 6 to 8 as they deepen critical thinking, cultural understanding, and independence through hands-on exploration at our West Bellevue campus.
In our Spanish Immersion program, children learn Spanish naturally through daily conversation, stories, routines, and culturally rich experiences supported by native-speaking guides.
In our Mandarin immersion classrooms, children hear and use Mandarin throughout the day, building strong language foundations through real-world, meaningful interactions.
Parent Reviews
Punthawat H.
January 14, 2025
Excellent take care kids and friendly.
Wenjing Q.
November 5, 2024
Loving teachers and that our kid is able to have the same teachers for the past year.
Siddhi G.
July 2, 2024
The environment at the school is so warm and welcoming to the children. The teachers are also very caring and take great efforts to ensure that the kids are doing well in school. We are very happy with how well our child is doing at International Montessori Academy.
Michelle H.
May 14, 2024
The teachers and staff are fantastic. it feels like home and my kids are happy there. I also really like the curriculum design.
Weiwei L.
March 5, 2024
The teachers are very good, elegant environment, unique teaching
Helen L.
January 10, 2024
Absolutely fantastic teachers!
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Montessori Pre-K Program
Our Pre-K program follows the Montessori approach, where children work with thoughtfully designed educational materials that match their developmental stage and growing independence. Our Montessori guides support younger students through hands-on learning outcomes that conventional schools often reserve for later years, helping them build self-control, confidence, and curiosity.