Mountain Montessori Early Learning Centre
Montessori education for children 2.5 - 5
Program Description
Program Description
At Mountain Montessori Early Learning Centre, each child is allowed the freedom to safely experience the excitement of learning at her own pace, by her own choice, and in an environment, that appeals to her inner needs.
Practical Life Exercises - Skills of Daily Living
Practical Life Exercises - Skills of Daily Living
For young children, there is something special about tasks that an adult considers ordinary; washing dishes, paring vegetables, polishing shoes, etc. These are exciting to children because they allow them to imitate adults. Imitation is one of the strongest urges during a child's early years.
In this area of the classroom, children have the opportunity to:
- perfect their coordination and refine their fine and gross motor controls
- learn grace and courtesy
- learn to care for themselves and their environment
- lengthen their span of concentration
- pay attention to details
- develop good work habits as they finish each task and put away all the materials before beginning another activity.
Sensorial Activities - Exploring the World
Sensorial Activities - Exploring the World
The Sensorial materials help children to distinguish, categorize and relate new information to what they already know. Dr. Montessori believed that this process is the beginning of conscious knowledge, and is brought about by the intelligience working in a concentrated way on the impressions given by the senses.
Mathematics - from
Concrete to Abstract
Dr. Montessori demonstrated that, if children have access to mathematical equipment in their early years, they could easily and joyfully assimilate many facts and skills of arithmetic. After observing how interesting numerals became to the children when they could manipulate the materials, Dr. Montessori designed concrete materials to represent all types of mathematical quantities. By combining, separating,
sharing, counting and comparing this equipment, children
demonstrate to themselves the basic operations of mathematics.
Language - from
Spoken to Reading to Writing
Large wooden map puzzles of different continents are available for the children to manipulate. At first, the children simply put these puzzles together, but eventually, they learn the names of different countries as well as various facts about each one. The maps illustrate many geographical facts concretely. Children also learn the common land formations.
Large wooden map puzzles of different continents are available for the children to manipulate. At first, the children simply put these puzzles together, but eventually, they learn the names of different countries as well as various facts about each one. The maps illustrate many geographical facts concretely. Children also learn the common land formations.
Music
Music
Music is included in our daily group times, along with poems, songs, fingerplays, etc. Kathy Letham, a music teacher who has been teaching for 25 years in the public school system and is known as "Grandma Kathy" to the children, comes once a week to sing, dance, and play the guitar with the children.
Outdoor Play/Gym Time
Outdoor Play/Gym Time
Outdoor play and/or gym time is incorporated into the daily program for approximately 1/2 hour to 1 hour per day. Outdoor play is supervised by teachers and parent volunteers.
Gym time includes free play, games with balls, hoola hoops, floor mats, scooters, etc., as well as dress-up fun!
Yoga
Yoga
Children participate in one yoga session per week with a wonderful yoga instructor. Her session includes stories, yoga based on the story read, as well as other movement activities, always ending a session with a peaceful shivasana.
These words reveal the child's inner needs; 'Help me to do it alone.'"
Maria Montessori