For many children, this is the first experience of being a member of his or her own community. The child is not served, but rather is allowed and encouraged to be a functioning member of the community. This leads him or her to a feeling of pride.
This sensitive period of the child's life has many physical and emotional needs that can be met in a uniquely prepared toddler environment. The space is beautifully designed to appeal to the child's curiosity. The materials in the room continue to change as the child grows emotionally, physically, and intellectually.
The ages between 3 and 6 are the most critical period of a child's development. At this age, a child is like a sponge, able to absorb far more than adults can. This is also a critical period for language acquisition and a great time for bilingual development. Our immersion program provides students with enough vocabulary, structure, and competency to understand and express themselves bilingually.
Children entering the program need to be potty trained prior to being admitted, thus allowing our teachers to maximize their teaching time.
Designed to teach children to care about and respect themselves and their environment, these materials allow children to develop small muscle strength and control, improve hand-eye coordination, and teach left-to-right progression. Children will have opportunities to expand their life skills through activities involving spooning, grasping, threading, dressing, washing, sweeping, folding, table setting, cooking, flower arranging, and many other practical life experiences. By exploring and experimenting with these materials, children will expand their curiosity and feel good about their accomplishments.
Children learn to understand the world around them through the constant use of their senses.
Activities in the sensorial area provide an opportunity for children to observe the differences and similarities in what they see, hear, feel, taste and smell.
The sensorial materials in the classroom help children to distinguish, to categorize, and to relate new information to what they already know.
Children develop bilingual language skills through meaningful experiences: listening to stories, poems, fingerplays, and having many opportunities to talk and be heard.
The development of language begins with speech and progresses into reading and writing.
The activities in the math area give children a hands-on approach to developing basic math concepts.
Children are indirectly preparing for math as they discover similarities, compare differences, find sequences, and explore the world around them.
Math activities stimulate a child's inquisitiveness, which is a crucial factor in the learning process.
The world of math comes alive for a child in a Montessori environment!
Through hands-on experiences, children learn mathematical concepts at ease and at their own pace.
The culture area includes geography, history and cultural awareness.
Children gain an awareness of the world around them by exploring other countries and their customs.
As children explore large wooden puzzle maps, they gradually learn the names of the countries and continents.
Through other related materials, children learn to appreciate and recognize the importance of people and places around the world and in our own community.
Science promotes cognitive development through stimulating a child's curiosity.
Children are given hands-on, real life activities that either have a predetermined conclusion (teaching cause and effect) or are open-ended and encourage a sense of discovery.
Art is an important part of the Montessori curriculum, allowing for self-expression and fine motor skills development.
Children have an opportunity to explore colors, textures, and patterns, thus developing their visual and sensory abilities.
Through music children learn to hear differences in sounds, discover rhythm, increase vocabulary, and experience the impact of music on their moods.