Language
The Language materials are abundant in our classrooms and at the earlier levels, use a phonetic approach, emphasizing the sounds of the letters. This allows the child to move naturally into reading as the child is ready. In the Montessori classroom children also experience writing before reading, gaining the capability to make words as they develop reading skills. This approach is a whole language method that helps children to become independent readers. Often when you ask a Montessori child who taught her to read, you will hear the pleased response “No one. I taught myself!”
Mathematics
The beauty of math, numbers, quantity and the relationships between these comes through visually with Montessori math materials. Whether it be Red and Blue Rods, Spindle Boxes, or the Golden Bead work, these works appeal to children because of their aesthetic beauty and clear order allowing the child to understand that the world can be ordered and understood through mathematics.
The faculty spends a great deal of time working with these materials leading most children to a good foundation in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division as well as fractions, and a sound understanding of the base ten system.
Sensorial
All of life becomes known to each person through the use of his or her senses. As such, the Sensorimotor materials, which isolate impressions of taste, sight, sound, touch and hearing, allow children to develop a deeper consciousness of their world, while building vocabulary around these individual characteristics, and expanding their understanding of how the world is ordered.
Many of the sensorimotor materials used today were carefully developed by Dr. Montessori herself and assist children in refining their sensory experiences from awareness of taste, to auditory discrimination, to the many small motor skills necessary to learn to write. Each level offers the children age-appropriate materials that stimulate their senses, inspiring them to explore and build on their experiences.
Science & Nature
The natural world and its order ‘speaks’ to children through the admiration and eagerness that often is lost on many adults. Montessori students look at the world as it is to understand its order through nomenclature, parts of plants, and animals. They begin to name, draw, and classify plant and animal kingdoms. Often this is done in very practical ways: gardening, care of animals, care of surroundings, conservation methods, and protection of habitats. These are not just indoor activities, but the students become accustomed to discovering and searching for animals, and plants in the outdoor spaces as well.
Social Studies
Children become aware of the social world around them right from birth. Social studies is no exception. But what Dr. Montessori discovered was that young children are captivated by social interaction, and discovery. The way that we can access this learning is through the use of maps which leads to a better understanding of global relationships, and diversity among people. Our continent puzzle maps are a favorite for these children because they awaken their desire to know, to do, and to understand how people are different, and how they are the same even though they may live far away from one another.
Practical Life
The Practical Life, or everyday living, materials help children to master self-care and independence. These activities include self care, cooking and food preparation and environmental care to name just a few. Through these common activities, the children learn to concentrate, develop fine motor skills, blueprint sequencing steps and become confident learners, moving toward greater challenges with enthusiasm. The Montessori Method encourages independence, assisting children in gaining the skills to care for their personal needs, care for the environment, care for their peers with grace and courtesy. Children have a natural desire to be independent and are excited to be given the time and respect, as well as the appropriate tools, to accomplish these tasks on their own.
Physical Development
Early childhood educators, pediatricians, physical therapists, and many other professionals agree that the development of physical skill is a great predictor of long-term success in every area of one’s life. This is why we have time for physical activity each day. Our property allows for plenty of constructive outdoor games, gardening, and skill building (even in the winter) all of which contribute to the development of the child’s physical needs. Adults who exercise regularly, have improved memory, sharpness of thought, and general happiness. This same principle is true for children. We believe in meeting the child’s physical need on a daily basis.
