OUR PROGRAM
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OUR PROGRAM
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Practical Life:
These activities are focused on tasks normally done in the home, such as
folding laundry and pouring liquids, and help bridge the gap between home and
school. They are the foundation of the program, as they settle the child into
the school, and help in the development of many important attributes. In this
area, children improve their co-ordination and lengthen their concentration
span. They learn to pay attention to detail as they follow a regular sequence
of actions and develop a sense of order. Finishing each task and putting away
all the materials before starting another activity establishes a sense of
responsibility and good work habits. Finally, these exercises prepare the
child for sensorial materials and materials which require fine motor control.
Sensorial:
Children entering the program already have sensorial experiences from the
environment. Sensorial exercises help them to organize their chaotic
impressions by devel
oping an awareness, understanding and refinement of their
five senses. The material is designed to give knowledge systematically along
with the vocabulary to go with each sensation. When they apply their
intelligence to the impressions given by their senses, the students learn to
observe, co-ordinate, control, distinguish, categorize, and relate new
information to what they already know. These materials create a foundation
which makes all future learning easier.
Mathematics:
Children learn best by combining the thought process with manipulation of
equipment. Montessori students learn the concepts of quantity, symbol,
sequence, operations and memorization of basic facts by using very concrete
mathematics materials that engage their hands and mind together. There are
many materials designed for adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing, all
featuring the decimal system.
Language:
This area includes oral language development, written expression, grammar and
reading. We have a French class every day. Students are introduced to the
language area with the letters of the alphabet made from sandpaper. They
learn the phoenetic sounds by touching the letters and repeating the sound of
each one, and then learn the alphabetical names in sequence. Through
exercises, games and activities, students progress to learning to read three
letter phonetic words, then four or more letter phonetic words and later non-
phonetic words. Dr. Montessori considered reading one of the most important
keys to future learning. Subsequent research indicates that phonetics is the
best way to teach reading, and that it is best taught before Grade 2. While
many students leave the public school system without having learned to read
well, many graduates of a Montessori preschool enter public school
Kindergarten reading at an advanced level.
Science and Nature:
The Montessori method aims to foster a love and appreciation for all living
things. Children study the names, parts and life cycles of animals and
plants. Our unique setting gives the students countless opportunities to
relate classroom lessons with the real thing.
History:
We start with an overall view and then focus on specific parts. The children
are introduced to the concept of time first, then night and day, yesterday,
today and tomorrow, the names of the days, months and seasons and young and
old. Egg timers, time lines, pictures and golden bead material are all used
in this area.
Geography, the Environment and Culture:
We hope our students will become good "global citizens", and we try to foster
an understanding, tolerance and compassion for all forms of life, throughout
the world. Globes, cards and maps help to form concepts of land, water,
continents, oceans and land forms, as well as specific places in the world and
the planetary system. Various aspects of different cultures are taught, to
raise the children's awareness of the world at large. The basic tenets of
environmentalism are also taught and practised.
