where learning is unlimited
 CA's holistic Montessori program gives children 3 to 10 years of age an opportunity to continue being involved in their learning. They discover, visualize, and finally abstract information from the materials they are using. They become self-directed, independent thinkers and problem solvers. "The secret of good teaching is to regard the children's intelligence as a fertile field in which seeds may be sown, to grow under the heat of flaming imagination. Our aim, therefore, is not merely to make the children understand, and still less to force them to memorize, but so to touch their imagination as to enthuse them to their innermost core." - Maria Montessori
O Preprimary/Intermediate: The Age of the Absorbent Mind - The Preprimary (Intermediate) program is carefully planned based on the Montessori principles. Each child is honored as an individual and lessons are designed according to their developmental needs and their natural desire to learn. It provides children 3 to 6 years of age an opportunity to enjoy and explore in a nurturing, beautifully "prepared environment" scaled to their size. There are five main areas of focus: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Math and Cultural Studies which includes Geography, Science, Music, Spanish and Art. Practical Life lessons are designed to provide real and purposeful work which help children develop physically, socially and mentally. These include activities in polishing, sorting, grace and courtesy, personal care, food preparation. Sensorial lessons sharpen their senses and enable them to understand the many impressions they receive through them. Children do activities with texture, weight, size, color, shape and sound. In math, children are exposed to counting, decimal beads, proportion and computation; and in language, they begin pre-writing and writing, pre-reading and reading. The Montessori materials help children build a sense of order, concentration, coordination and independence. Learning patterns established at this age produce confident, competent learners who are ready to move on to their elementary years. Elementary: The Age of Imagination - The elementary program gives children, 6 to 12 years of age, an opportunity to continue being involved in their learning. They discover, visualize, and finally abstract information from the materials they are using. They become self-directed, independent thinkers and problem solvers. Children at this age are more eager to learn, develop cultural knowledge, and are capable of organized activity. They have an unlimited interest in our universe and their place in it and are keen to explore the world around them. The elementary curriculum, designed to capture the sensitive periods of this particular age-group, encompasses Natural Science, Geography, Language Arts, Mathematics, Music, Spanish and Physical Education. Lessons are individually structured according to the child’s developing skills and interests. A broad range of resources are used – manipulative materials, books, charts, collections of specimens, Albanese Language and Math Montessori curriculum and computers. The teacher structures the environment, presents the key lessons and then acts as a guide. Through the day, there is a combination of individual, small group and large group activities. The mixed age group gives the children many opportunities for peer teaching and support. The elementary program provides a holistic education that nurtures curiosity, independence, creativity, self-motivation, and thinking and reasoning skills. For Dr. Montessori, an important aspect of the elementary program was for children to understand the world around them and their responsibility toward it. She saw education as the means for transforming our world into a place of peace. **Our Intermediate programs are held at OCA and our Preprimary program is held at both OCA and MCA facilities giving parents the opportunity to choose by location.

OAKLAND CHILDREN'S ACADEMY TEMPORARILY CLOSED:

FUTURE LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED