These activities are the learning processes that children need to function and thrive in everyday life. They are cultural and specific to the child's time and place and help the child develop a sense of being and belonging. They are able to observe and participate in tasks that focus on four areas: Caring for the Self, Caring for the Environment, Grace & Courtesy and Movement of Objects. Practical life exercises also help the children with their coordination in movement, balance, gracefulness, and the power of being silent.
Here, the child will acquire the ability to make clear decision and classifications about their environment. Sensorial experience begin at birth, as the child studies their environment, understands what is happening to them, and becomes a "sensorial explorer". As they start to classify objects and experiences that surround them, they are building their intelligence, leading them to adapt to their changing environment. They learn about size, shape, composition, texture, loudness or softness, matching, weight, temperature and more. The categories that we teach them in are broken down to Visual, Tactile, Baric, Thermic, Auditory, Olfactory, Gustatory and Sterognostic.
Our musical program develops the child's nonverbal affective communication, increasing their understanding and enjoyment of music in our culture. They listen, learn and play as active musical training can improve their problem solving skills, physical coordination, poise, concentration, memory, visual, aural and language skills, self-discipline, self-confidence and their ability to learn.
We believe that children can absorb mathematical concepts naturally. There are sensitive periods in a child's development where these concepts are eagerly and joyfully explored through preparation and repetition. Our children learn concepts of order, sequence, measurement, calculations and exactness. To fully develop their mathematical mind, we set up and organize our shelves, trays and work mats in a sequential and progressive fashion, in a logical order and placement. The children estimate how many drops of water are needed to fill a vessel, they measure out drops of food colouring or plant food, and are constantly challenged to be independent with their calculations and higher math skills.
Children are introduced to food and nature first-hand experience through the activity of planting. We believe that it's better to have them do things themselves rather than ready about it a book or being told about it from a teacher. This activity helps kids develop self-esteem and social skills through interaction with plants and friends. They learn to love nutrition and we teach the children farming and a love for vegetables by growing their own food. The children are preparing to plant their garden outside during the Spring and Summer months.
Maria Montessori decveloped a theory on the Absorbent Mind - children, without ever bring taught, seemingly explode into language, reading and writing. Language is woven into each area and activity that we do throughout the day and we work to enrich the child's vocabulary, expand their capacity to communicate clearly, and enable them to better express themselves. The teachers evaluate each child but use a "Three Period Lesson" system of associate, recognition and recall so that the child doesn't feel pressure to succeed all at once. The teachers states the name of an object, then the child is asked to point to the object when they hear the name, then the adult will point to the object and the child is asked what it is.
Children participate in weekly physical education classes to strengthen their balance, hand-eye coordination, tactile awareness, directionality and agility. Cooperative games strengthen the classroom community and encourage the spirit of good sportsmanship.
Children are encouraged to explore their creativity by using various art media such as tempura and water paints, markers, colored pencils, crayons, collage, etc.. Each month, the students explore a famous "Artist of the Month," as with Pablo Picasso's “Mains Aux Fleurs” above.
Small Town Pre-Montessori School is pleased to offer a Casa French Program. This program, for children 3-6 years of age, is offered fully in French, taught by a certified Montessori teacher and follows the Montessori philosophy.
Geography is the study of man, the way humans live, and the way of life that has been established to be able to sustain life. Our children learn about various cultures and different parts of the - how they live, work, speak and more. We enhance the child's home culture and then teach them about others as well. Georgraphy has two divisions - physical and political. For physical georgraphy, we teach the children basic forms of landmass using models, pictures and books. We are teach them about climate zones and how they affect the people that live in them. For political geography, we look at the divisions in the world that have been put in place by humans themselves.
![[object Object]](/lib_RAxgsumvQtaKJbEV/3gxflda77t3jj1op.png?w=186)