Montessori Program -

We Support Montessori Education!

What is the Montessori Method?

The Montessori Method was developed by Dr Maria Montessori in the early 1900s. It’s a specific child-centered method of education that involves child-led activities (referred to as “work”), classrooms with children of varying ages and teachers who encourage independence among their pupils. Dr. Montessori believed that children learn better when they’re choosing what to learn, and that philosophy is present in Montessori classrooms today. What makes the Montessori Classroom unique?

Various activity stations for children to choose from throughout the day.
Teachers moving from group to group instead of standing at the front of the classroom.
A non-traditional monitoring and evaluation of each child’s skills.
A focus on the whole student—social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development are all considered.
We offer a full Montessori program from 19 months to school age

The Montessori Education

If you ever talk to a Montessori educator, you are likely to hear a cascade of praise for the Montessori Method. Systems of education tend to inspire a real passion in the teachers who use them. Why Montessori Education?

An emphasis on hands-on independent learning

Montessori classrooms are somewhat famous for their beauty. Lots of natural light and space are common priorities in the classroom design. This is all done for a reason. Creating a beautiful and accessible environment is of paramount importance, as children direct their own learning with the help of meticulously designed learning aids. These materials lead young learners to the understanding of complex vocabulary and the discovery of abstract ideas through the hands-on use of concrete objects fashioned for just such a purpose.

The best thing about a Montessori environment is that it allows for children to work, develop, and learn at their own individual pace. Children are exposed to lessons, activities and materials that build upon their skill set—they progress in their development as an individual. These independently used materials provide students with the opportunity to develop their concentration and coordination in addition to more traditional academic learning.

Enhanced social interaction

Have you ever noticed the way children become fascinated by what other children are doing? Montessori capitalises on that by grouping children of different ages together in the same learning environments. Most Montessori classrooms are mixed-age and intended to foster peer-to-peer learning. This arrangement can naturally lead to growth that might not occur in a more uniformly aged classroom. These mixed-aged groups allow for children to learn from one another, teach one another and develop life skills such as inclusion and acceptance.

Independence is a mainstay

Children develop a sense of confidence and creative freedom. A Montessori background is better for developing an entrepreneurial skillset. Since much of the learning process is self- directed, children can gain a sense of independence and confidence in their abilities much faster than in a traditional school setting. Students who experience a Montessori classroom tend to be more able to manage themselves and think independently.

A cultivated love for learning

This educational philosophy strives to encourage a love for learning. The biggest long-term impact in a Montessori Environment is that Montessorians remain perpetually curious about the people and the world around them, seeing learning as an enjoyable life-long process rather than a burden that ends when a school bell rings. This particular benefit can stay with children their entire lives and become a propelling force through their education, a career, job training—or even just in the experiences they have and the people they encounter. Montessorians have a desire and an ability to connect with a variety of people and ideas in many different situations and contexts.

Why We Follow Montessori Method

Research shows that alongside other methods and techniques, the Montessori pedagogy is highly effective and has a proven successful track record in the early years of child development in maximising each child’s own abilities. It provides a very solid foundation and academic base for children at the start of their school life. Many independent schools have successfully incorporated Montessori methods into their delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.

The Five Areas of the Montessori Curriculum

Practical Life

The Montessori Practical Life Curriculum incorporates exercises and activities that children observe in daily life. These activities develop children’s independence, concentration, and fine motor skills. Typical practical life activities involve transferring, food preparation, lessons in grace and courtesy, and cleaning.

Example materials and activities include:

Spooning

Tonging

Threading

Sweeping

Sensorial

Sensorial activities teach children to refine their senses of sight, touch, sound, smell and taste so that they can organise sensory impressions and their understanding of the world. Through sensorial materials, children learn about similarity and difference, dimensions, colours, and shapes, and distinguish between smells, taste, and sound. Sensorial work also prepares children for mathematics, language, and geometry by teaching children how to classify and sort.

Example materials and activities include:

Pink Tower
Colour Box
Geometric Solids
Trinomial Cube

Mathematics

The Mathematics Curriculum teaches children to understand abstract mathematical concepts and relationships through hands-on learning experiences. Children learn to count, identify, and match numerals to their quantity, relate decimal quantities and symbols, and become aware of the functions of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division by

Example materials and activities include:

Numerals and Counters
Hanging Bead Stair
Teen Boards
Hundred Board

Language

The Montessori Language Curriculum provides children with the knowledge and skills to build their vocabulary and understanding of language. The skills required for reading, writing and oral language are developed through hands-on experience using the Montessori language materials. Children learn letter sounds (phonics), letter identification and formation, how to combine sounds to make words, how to build simple sentences, and how to properly hold a pencil. Oral language skills are developed through daily social interactions, group time experiences, and lessons in grace and courtesy.

Example materials and activities include:

Sandpaper Letters
Moveable Alphabet
Metal Insets
Three Part Cards

Culture

The Culture Curriculum incorporates a wide range of subjects, including Geography, Botany, Zoology, Science, History, Music, and Art. Through explorations of culture, children develop an understanding of their community, their world, and their social responsibilities. Children learn to respond to diversity with respect, appreciate music and art, and develop awareness of sustainability. Example materials and activities include: