THE MONTESSORI PROGRAM Preschool: 12 Months – 5 Years
Our Montessori preschool classrooms encourage the child to be independent. They choose their work from the many materials tailored to their age group. Once they become used to their classroom, they form a community and can work independently. The Montessori guide is cognizant of each individual’s learning style. She works with a single child or a small group and perfectly models love and respect for the children, environment, and each other.
THE 5 PREPARED ENVIRONMENTS
The Practical Life Environment
In this area of the classroom, children learn to take care of themselves and become cognizant of the order of things. They perfect their coordination and become absorbed in simple activities, such as pouring or scooping from one container to another. These household activities, such as washing dishes, cutting bread, setting the table, simple gardening, etc., gradually lengthen their span of concentration and help develop social responsibility. They are also cognizant of details as they follow a regular sequence of actions.
Finally, they develop effective working habits: completing tasks on time and putting away materials no longer in use. These activities are exciting to children because they get to imitate adults, and imitation is one of the effective ways to let children learn by themselves.
The Sensorial Environment
The Sensorial Materials in the classroom improve the child’s use of their five senses. Educators believe that this process starts the development of conscious knowledge, which is brought by the impressions of each of the five senses. The children become aware of details offered to them, with, at first, strongly contrasted sensations and then variously graded sensations.
The many materials in the classroom help children distinguish, categorize, and relate new information to what they already know. Each of the Sensorial Materials emphasizes one defining quality, such as color, size, sound, smell, etc. The materials emphasize this particular quality and minimize other differences.
The Cultural Environment
Children aged 2-6 are fascinated by their environment. This includes nature and its living inhabitants. The science materials in the classroom present certain aspects of this world in such a way that the child can observe and experiment with what they have learned. Puzzles showing different parts of natural creation, like trees and plants, are good examples of this. A garden where children plant seeds and grow vegetables, flowers, and fruits gives children hands-on experiences.
The focus of science lies in engaging children’s interests while helping them learn at the same time; they become objective, organized, and determined to finish tasks.
The Geography Area contains many large wooden puzzles of different continents. Children are drawn to the beauty and structure of these puzzles. The little ones love to trace the different countries within the continents and learn their names. These puzzles are among the most popular activities in the classroom, as children love to use these maps as fun puzzles at first, then with the assistance of the guide, they learn more about the countries and expand their knowledge and vocabulary. This area introduces children to the different cultures so they can better understand and respect all people of the world.
The Language Environment
In the classroom, children will learn the basic skills of writing and reading through the use of sandpaper letters and presentations using letters and objects. This allows children to link sounds and letters. Under our care, they learn phonetic sounds of the letters in English and Spanish before learning the alphabet.
The Math Environment
Children who become interested in counting find joy in touching or moving the items as they enumerate them and, thus, develop a love for mathematics with the effective use of the materials handed to them. Math materials, such as beads for counting, abacus, and spindles, can assist the children to perform different functions like separating items, counting, and comparing. Children will learn the basic operations of mathematics in a fun, engaging environment.
FUTURE PROJECTS
As our school completes its enrollment phase, our hope is to add different programs to our curriculum.
Other activities may include:
- Yoga
- Music
- Mandarin
- Garden activities
IMPORTANT LINKS
- The Montessori Foundation and International Montessori Council (IMC)
- North American Montessori Center (NAMC)www.montessori.org
- United Montessori Association (UMA)www.unitedmontessori.com
- Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)www.dfps.state.tx.us
Stay in Touch
Contact us for more information.
If you and your child are ready to enroll in our programs, click here.
