The environment is fundamental to the curriculum in a Montessori school.
Activities are placed on open shelves for selection as interest and readiness
inspire the child. The homelike quality of our school contributes to a relaxed,
focused experience for the child, who may move freely between several different
rooms. Our outdoor environment offers a beautiful, developed playground
and picnic area with climbing structures, sand play, tricycles, pet rabbits
and garden. The nearby library, park and stores offer convenient enrichments
to our school environment.
The child learns to care for himself and the environment with simple exercises
which develop muscular dexterity, coordination, order, independence, respect
for others and self-esteem. Exercises in grace and courtesy enhance the
child's socialization process. Care for our garden and school animals develop
the child's appreciation of the natural world.
The child works with materials which help her to refine sense discriminations
and to become more aware of the surrounding world: to recognize and compare
various colors, shapes, sizes, textures, and sounds. Sand-and-water-table
play enhance the child's experience of discovery in these areas as do other
play activities. Sensorial activities may be used together and in games
which invite and enhance the child's creative exploration.
A rich verbal environment helps the child to develop vocabulary and self-expression.
Social and verbal interactions between children are encouraged. Puppet and
block play areas, tea party table and dollhouse play enrich the child's
language experience. Stories are read and dramatized. Books are made about
many experiences. The child works with sandpaper letters and other materials
which help him to discover reading as he or she becomes ready.
Math materials consist of a progression of objects designed to show concrete
qualities of numbers and operations. The goal of our program is to give
the child a strong foundation for forming abstract ideas about numbers and
a love for the beauty of mathematics.
Experiences in art, music, woodworking, cultures of the world, science,
geography, botany and history are designed to enhance the child's creativity
and symbolic capacities and to deepen her curiosity about the world. The
cultural subjects curriculum attempts to unify all aspects of the child's
learning. Cultural subjects themes are developed in depth and change over
time, permeating all areas of the curriculum.