The Casa

Ages 3-6

The Montessori Children’s House, “Casa” in Italian, is a place where the 3-6 year old child continues to build himself physically, socially and intellectually. In stark contrast to traditional schooling, this child-directed environment has an order that promotes freedom. This kind of liberty ignites an enthusiasm for learning and fosters self-esteem, self-control, and independence through the Montessori curriculum.

Sensorial activities allow the child to refine each of her senses. She will become a child who can appreciate color or texture differences, and organize her thoughts and objects in his environment.

A purple outline of three stacked cubes, with a purple circle around them.

Creative Arts provide a means of self expression. Rather than completing a specific project, children are free to choose art materials to create with loose parts and a variety of high quality art mediums and techniques.

Red paint brush within a red circle

Practical Life skills provide the foundation for all other activities in the Montessori classroom. Through exercises in his everyday life, from pouring water or learning how to tie a shoelace, the child learns to properly take care of himself so that he may feel independent and does not have to rely on an adult for his basic needs. This purposeful work contributes to the development of concentration, coordination of movement, and mastery of the environment.

Illustration of two hands making an okay gesture inside a circle.

Geography & Culture are celebrated with traditions like music and stories as well as maps and flags. Children begin to see the uniqueness of other cultures.

A blue globe icon with grid lines inside a circular outline.

Science gives children real, hands-on experiences with topics such as buoyancy and magnetics as well as exposure to the worlds of biology and botany.

Green scientific laboratory flask icon inside a circle.

Mathematics lessons lead the child through progressive hands-on activities, emphasizing concepts while preparing the child for abstractions supported by the math materials.

Icon of a checklist with three bullet points and lines next to each bullet point inside a circle

Language activities such as object matching, tracing sand paper letters, spelling with the moveable alphabet and cursive writing help the child explore the world around them through spoken and written word.

Portrait of a Kindergartener

Meet the Casa Team

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair and a black ribbed sweater sitting outdoors with trees in the background.

  • 3-6 Directress
    My husband and I first learned about Montessori in 2008 through our daughter’s journey at a local Lithuanian Montessori program. We watched our daughter slowly emerge from a protective cocoon and blossom into a confident individual whose love of learning continues to serve her well as she heads into Junior High. After the birth of our second daughter and taking some time off to be fully present in motherhood, I began my Montessori training at Seton Montessori Institute, graduating in 2016.

    Since that time, I have enjoyed the collaborative spirit that is part of the classroom community. I love offering encouragement to children, sharing their triumphs and delighting in the challenge of new ideas and experiences. It is my commitment to create a beautiful environment designed to meet the needs and growing interests of each child, providing opportunities for exploration leading to confident and creative self-expression.

A woman in a patterned dress standing outdoors with her hand on her hip, smiling at the camera.

  • 3-6 Assistant
    I graduated from DePaul University with a degree in early childhood education and a minor in Spanish. I’m married and have two amazing daughters, Chloe and Eva.

    As my husband and I looked into preschools for our oldest, we were introduced to the amazing world that is Montessori education. I was immediately drawn to the learning environment and the philosophy of Maria Montessori. I began volunteering at Chloe’s school and eventually worked as an assistant in their toddler program. When Eva was born, my husband and I found Lupine Montessori and we are so thankful and excited to be part of this loving community.

    I am delighted to be a member of the wonderful Lupine community and look forward to this new journey in the Casa.

  • A woman and a young girl lying on the floor and reading a children's illustrated atlas together in a cozy, wooden-furnished room.
  • A young girl painting a colorful map of Italy on a table.
  • A young boy drawing with colored pencils at a table in a classroom. There are art supplies, paper, and a colorful textured wall hanging behind him.
  • A young boy sitting on the carpeted floor, playing with a puzzle of a world map, smiling at the camera. There is a small rug, furniture, and plants in the background.
  • Two young boys sitting at a table in a classroom, engaging in conversation. One boy is wearing an orange hoodie and the other is wearing an orange T-shirt. The table has colored pencils, a basket, and a vase with yellow flowers.
  • Two young children, a boy and a girl, holding hands outside on a sunny day. The boy is wearing a black 'Trick or Treat' Halloween t-shirt and the girl is wearing a black and white shirt with the initials 'LM'. Both are smiling, and the girl is holding a stick. There are trees, a bench, and buildings in the background.
  • Group of nine children standing on grass outside, smiling and hugging, with a building and trees in the background.
  • A young child in a purple sweatshirt with a graphic design, kneeling on the floor and arranging colorful foam letters and picture cards on a beige mat.
  • A woman with sunglasses sitting under a tree surrounded by six young girls outdoors on grass.
  • A young girl with long dark hair, wearing a jacket and colorful skirt, is sitting on the floor and pointing at flashcards with butterfly images and words. Other children are in the background in a classroom.
  • Three children sitting on the floor in a classroom, smiling at the camera, with educational toys and items such as number cards, wooden blocks, and clipboards around them.
  • Two young girls sitting at a table. One girl is decorating a mushroom with white frosting, while the other girl is smiling and looking on. The table has a yellow placemat and some small containers with white frosting.
  • Seven young girls standing outdoors on grass, smiling and posing together, with trees in the background.
  • Young boy with brown hair and a blue and red Superman shirt smiling while building a colorful cube puzzle at a table in a classroom.
  • Young girl raking fallen leaves in a park with other children in the background on a sunny autumn day.
  • A young boy is using a lightbox to trace or draw a picture with a stylus. He has short dark hair and is wearing a long sleeve shirt with gray and blue colors. In the background, there are shelves with books, a small aquarium, and paintings on the wall.

“Within the child lies the fate of the future.”

― Maria Montessori