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Learn more about the kindergarten year in a primary classroom by watching the video
A typical day for a young student includes time when the class gathers together in a circle to sing songs, and learn about something new; perhaps the topic is dinosaurs or how to greet a friend with a handshake.
Children in a preschool Montessori classroom learn to maneuver about their classroom with confidence, exploring concepts in mathematics, reading and writing, geography, science and activities of daily life such as preparing their own snack or washing dishes.
Children learn skills in grace and courtesy, naturally caring and teaching each other, respecting the classroom activities and learning to clean up after themselves. In addition to the Montessori curriculum, we provide children with the opportunity to experience art, music and movement, and outdoor activities.
To develop positive social, emotional and physical growth in a respectful environment
To become an integral member of the classroom community
To encourage independent decision making and problem solving skills
To develop a solid academic foundation and desire for lifelong learning
Our early childhood classroom is designed to meet the ever changing needs of the three to six year old child. Beauty and order play important roles in creating the child size atmosphere which is carefully designed to encourage curiosity and a love for learning. Absorbent Minds Montessori offers each child the opportunity:
Practical Life or Everyday Living Skills activities are important to teach children to function in their own environment and find their place in their world and culture.
Practical Life exercises help children find their place in their home by becoming involved in how their home works and how they can best function in their home. When children become involved in the workings of their home, it creates a great sense of pride and builds self-confidence. This sense of self-confidence will be imprinted in their being for future success.
Practical Life exercises include pouring, sorting, food preparation, care of self (hand washing, dressing oneself), care of the environment (table setting, sweeping), and grace and courtesy lessons (saying excuse me, introducing oneself.)
Practical Life
The Montessori Sensorial curriculum promotes the development and refinement of the five senses. Children learn through their senses and all materials in a Montessori environment provide learning through touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing or hands-on manipulation, “nothing comes to the intellect that is not first in the senses” (Montessori, Secret of Childhood, p.100).
Some examples of Sensorial learning activities are sorting objects, matching colours, matching same tastes or same smells. A popular Montessori Sensorial work is the pink tower where pink cubes are built from the largest at the bottom to the smallest cube at the top.
Sensorial
The Montessori preschool Language program is a complete literacy program for children ages 2.5-6.
The program begins with story-telling, sound games with objects, and eventually children are introduced to grammar by age 6. The reading and writing materials are didactic in nature as children are able to practice the materials on their own.
The Language curriculum is phonetic in nature and utilizes games and powerful teaching tools to help children learn to decode phonetic words and high frequency/sight words. It is powerful in promoting early reading and writing skills using a variety of games and activities.
Language
The Montessori preschool Mathematics curriculum is a powerful learning tool for developing a strong foundation in math.
Dr. Maria Montessori realized that all children have a “Mathematical Mind” and that when they are given the opportunity to explore math in a concrete way, through “hands-on” materials, abstract math concepts become easier to comprehend.
She created her Mathematics and Sensorial curriculum based on the Decimal Numeral System or Base Ten Mathematical system. All Montessori Mathematics materials are based on abstract concepts and create concrete learning materials that children use independently.
Mathematics
The Montessori Culture curriculum is focused mostly on Science, Geography, Music, and Art. Yoga exercises are a modern addition to the program.
The Culture curriculum provides a wide array of activities including learning about the continents of the world and their uniqueness such as animals and habitats.
Montessori Culture activities include pictures of the places and people of the continents, books and flags of the world. Children learn the names of the continents, oceans and countries of the world. They learn through “hands-on” materials such as puzzle maps of the world.