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Language
The child learns oral language naturally. He automatically absorbs it from his environment. The work of the teacher is to expose him to the equivalent forms of written language, which he learns through the same general pattern of development. The Montessori child begins reading when he is ready and proceeds at his own pace. His experiences in practical life and sensorial education serve as a preparation for this. The sandpaper letters provide a phonetic basis for reading. The child 's desire and sensitivity to touch are utilized by these letters that are cut out of sandpaper and mounted for tracing. With cut out letters, the child builds his own words on a mat. The material frees him from the fatigue of his still developing writing skills, and yet gives him the opportunity to pursue his interest in words. These activities serve as a preparation for the time when the child assimilates what he knows and explodes into writing
Mathematics
In the Montessori environment math is the most popular subject inspiring enthusiasm, interest and concentration.
Mathematics in the Montessori classroom can be separated into a few major categories: Beginning counting, the decimal system, rational numbers (fractions) and the operations of addition, multiplication, subtraction and Division. Concepts are presented in a very concrete way so that children not only able to count, but skip count, square numbers and work with numbers in the thousands. Once the child has a firm foundation in the operations of addition, multiplication, subtraction and Division memorization of facts is introduced.
Practical Life
For the young child, the Montessori classroom offers meaningful activities. These exercises in movement, self-help, care of the environment and grace and courtesy, capture the pre-school child's natural interest and innate desire to participate in the affairs of the world around him. A most important need of the young child is to develop his muscles and coordinate his movement through such practical life exercises as sweeping, polishing, carrying water, pouring and washing a table. Special Montessori materials enable him to tie, button, snap and use many other fastening devices. The purpose of these exercises is to develop concentration, and to pay attention to detail as the child follows a regular sequence of actions and to learn good working habits . These activities provide the very foundation on which the child approaches more intricate academic exercises.
Sensorial
The sensorial exercises enhance and enrich visual-motor, auditory, tactile ,olfactory gustatory and three dimensional perceptions. Each of the sensorial materials isolates one defining quality such as color, weight, shape, texture, size, sound and smell. The Montessori sensorial material helps the child to distinguish, to categorize, and to relate new information to what he already knows. His intellect is trained to make order out of a multitude of experiences and to increase his perception of the world around him.
Cultural Subjects
The topic of culture studies integrates and emphasizes a region or populations, geography, History, Music, Art, etc.. The children study different areas of the world, and experiences concrete examples of that areas Language, Literature, dress, Food, Art work and Music both past and present. This increasingly important area introduces the child to our planets great diversity of people.
Science
The science materials present certain aspects of this world, in such a way that the child can observe, experiment, demonstrate and record what he has learned. The focus here is that the child learns how to be a scientist: objective, organized, able to perform tasks in a predetermined order and record the results. Science is a hands -on activity that includes biology ( botany and zoology ) and physical science.
Spiritual Exercises
These exercises are for the development of a fundamental relationship with god, nurturing and appreciating relationships with fellow human beings and nature. The exercises of silence allows the child a profound realization of self and promotes intrapersonal awareness as he/she develops into the person he/she is to become.
Music & Art
We have a separate room for music and art. Action, singing, dancing, movement exercises and the arts and crafts provide opportunities for your child to express His/Her own uniqueness. Painting, color mixing , collage and print making are just some of the activities provided to show the care and use of art materials, to encourage creativity, and just to have fun.
Gym
We have a separate Montessori Gym where we offer Gym class once a week where creative movement with music is incorporated. The gym is specifically designed for young children to nurture the total development of the child with an auditory, vocal and movement component.
Library
On Friday afternoons the children visit the school library and choose two books to take home for the week. The responsibility for looking after the books and returning them by the following week rests with the child.
Field Trips
The children take several field trips during the year. As much as possible the field trips are related to what is happening in their surroundings. Fields trips are utilized as a means of extending learning beyond the school boundaries.
AV Room
Our AV room is equipped with the latest audio/video equipment and a huge collection of CDs and DVDs which enlightens children and invokes their creativity and curiosity. |
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“the greatest sign of success for a teacher...is to be able to say,"the children are now workingas if i did not exist”
Dr. Maria Montessori
“The lesson must be presented in such a way that the personality of the teacher shall disappear. There shall remain in evidence only the object to which she wishes to call the attention of the child”
Dr. Maria Montessori
“Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed”
Dr. Maria Montessori |
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