To assist the child in their natural development our programs offer well-maintained, orderly “prepared environments” which invite a child to move and investigate. The child has free choice in the selection and length of tasks, which are structured for independent and successful activity. The Montessori materials are designed to isolate a single new concept to be grasped by the child and are self-correcting. They also follow a sequential progression permitting the child to master one task and then proceed to a further challenge.
The core of our Montessori Program is to provide a foundation for learning and inspire our children to discover, learn and grow. Our children learn How to Learn to build a long lasting foundation. Our Program includes the following key elements
Reading – Our Reading Program is a phonetic based system; teaching good decoding skills and word attack skills. Students leave our Kindergarten Program reading above their typical age reading level.
Mathematics – Abstract through concrete concepts. Our students learn addition and subtraction and they understand the process for both. They lead activities for counting quantities, developing one-to-one correspondence, recognizing numerical symbols, sequencing, place values, mathematical operations. They use tools such as the Hundred Board and Squaring and Cubing chains.
Sensorial – Sensorial materials allow our students to learn by refining the senses. Our students learn to classify and organize their environment, giving them the first steps to organizing their intelligence. The sensorial experiences support a foundation for learning and vocabulary development.
World Geography and Culture – Our students learn world geography and experience various aspects of different cultures through our materials and enrichment programs.
Practical Life – Our students learn and develop their fine motor skills, gaining independence and confidence in their ability to do daily tasks for caring for oneself, others and our surroundings; these activities foster independence, concentration, order and coordination.
Prepared Environment – Our classrooms are a carefully planned, stimulating environment, in which children discover materials especially designed for their readiness and maturity. The materials in the classroom offer a series of sequential, manipulative and sensorial activities that bridge the gap between concrete and abstract learning.
The Montessori preschool classroom does not separate children by age. Three year olds enter the classroom as the youngest students, needing special guidance and assistance. By the time they are five, in their Kindergarten year, they have gained self-confidence and leadership skills which they practice and hone by taking ever increasing responsibility for their classroom. Working on these skills is an important part of the third year program, and the skills the children acquire will help them throughout their lives. Our classroom provides educational material and equipment that encourage independent learning. This allows students to work on different stages of the same curriculum at different times, assuring that children can progress at a pace suited to them. Our children learn on their own independent learning path based on the child’s development, building confidence and inspiration to learn more.