Private Montessori School in Manhattan, NY

Caedmon:
Caedmon is a PreK-5 Modified Montessori school located on a quiet, residential street on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York. We are a school with a large international population. 25% of our enrollment comes to us from as many as 25 different countries. Caedmon maintains a class structure that allows the instruction to be more individualized. The Caedmon School consists of six levels: Beginners, Early Program, Kindergarten, Lower Level, Middle Level and Upper Level (fifth grade). Each class has two teachers - a head teacher and an associate. Individual and unique learning styles are an important factor in curriculum design – a wide variety of approaches is used to take such differences into account. The utilization of an inquisitive and experiential approach instills in the children the desire to pursue learning, the ability to acquire knowledge, and the incentive to work hard and to strive for excellence.

Educational Programs for Kids from Age 2 through 5th Grade: 

Beginners Program (2-3 years old):
The Beginners class has twelve to fourteen children with two teachers. The children are in school Monday through Friday from 8:30 am - 11:30 am. It is specifically designed to foster confidence, competence, and independence in first-time school children. It offers a predictable daily routine, a clear and accessible arrangement of materials, developmentally appropriate tasks, and an emphasis on social interaction, all of which are geared to making every experience a successful one for the child.

Early Program (3 - 4 year olds):
Early Program classes are small, mixed-age groups of three and four year old children. Two teachers for every 18-20 children provide individual attention. Combining Montessori methodology with activities in art, music, movement, library, science, outdoor play, and dramatic, open-ended play, the curriculum promotes social and emotional growth, as well as cognitive and sensory development.

The Early Program at Caedmon follows a modified Montessori philosophy. Traditional Montessori materials, which address cognitive and sensory-motor development, are enhanced by more contemporary activities to encourage the social, creative, and emotional growth of the child.

Kindergarten (5 year olds):
Kindergarten at Caedmon serves as a transition from our Early Program into our Elementary Program. For this reason, while most of the Caedmon Program combines two age groups in one classroom, Kindergarten does not. The daily schedule in Kindergarten is divided between open-ended activities, reminiscent of Early Program, and the directed group instruction that is typical from first grade onward.

Lower Level (1st and 2nd Grades):
The Lower Level at Caedmon is a combined first and second grade program. Children spend two years in the same classroom with the same teacher. They develop their academic and social skills in an environment that is free from competition, rich in intellectual stimulation and academic challenges, and full of emotional support. The children work in small, flexible groups, which allow the teachers to adapt the program to the needs of each child and adjust the grouping as they progress.

Middle Level (3rd and 4th Grades):
The Middle Level at Caedmon is a combined third and fourth grade program. As in the Lower Level, combining age groups in a single class allows for greater flexibility in shaping the curriculum to the progress of individual children. At the same time, children experience the classroom community from more than one point of view, first looking up to older role models, and then taking on responsibility for younger classmates.

Upper Level (5th Grade):
The Upper Level at Caedmon consists of one class of fifth grade students. They spend the year preparing for the academic and social rigors of middle school, while enjoying the culmination of their Caedmon experience. Academic instruction is still individualized and takes into account the learning styles, needs, and strengths of each child.