Our Program

The Montessori method is oriented to nurture the academic, emotional, and physical well-being of a child in a non-discriminatory way.  Our Child Care is a learning environment which fosters independent thinking and creative learning as we build critical and analytical skills during the formative years.Furthermore, our “open classroom” environment provides a challenging and socially stimulating experience that fosters great joy in learning as the children make their own choices and discoveries as they move freely throughout the space. Using the Montessori materials, children learn to grow at their own rate and according to their own interests.  The children develop independence and responsibility as they acquire valuable social, emotional, perceptual, intellectual, and physical skills.  The classroom is divided into 5 core Montessori areas; Practical life, Sensorial, Language, Math and Cultural, referred to as “The prepared environment”.  The prepared environment is carefully designed with age-appropriate materials for children to work with. Each child has a lesson plan created specifically for them to meet their individual needs.  We evaluate the child’s progress regularly.  The children work individually as well as in small groups allowing them to refine their social and team building skills. 

Practical Life:

Practical life activities are purposeful activities, develop motor control and coordination, independence, concentration, intellect, and a sense of responsibility.  These activities are the activities of everyday life and they are involved in all aspects of life.  The child observes these activities in the environment and gains knowledge through the real experience of how to accomplish life skills in a purposeful way. The Practical Life shelves include an art shelf stocked with paper, writing and coloring tools, scissor.  Additional shelves contain carefully prepared Montessori materials such as spooning, sweeping, pouring, sorting, handwashing, table washing, polishing, cleaning.An art easel and black board will also be available for children to explore their creative juices.

Sensorial:

The Sensorial area in the classroom focuses on lessons and activities that will help develop the five senses:  seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling.  These discriminatory activities will help the children clarify, classify, and understand the world around them.  It leads children to understand and create their own experiences in the environment. The child is also offered the first steps in organizing his/her intelligence, which then leads to adaptation of the environment.The Sensorial shelves include Montessori materials which aim to expose children to a range of colours, shapes, textiles and refinement of scents and sounds.

Language:

In the Language area, we incorporate both spoken and written language into the environment to further enrich early learning in young children. We begin with oral language by introducing vocabulary, story time, songs, and poems so that they may hear and experience language in a fun and playful way that appeals to them.  Children have unlimited access to a huge library of books based on a variety of topics to suit their interests as well as an assortment of stationery geared towards this age group. The Montessori language shelves will house vocabulary activities such as classification cards, nomenclature cards, sandpaper letters, moveable alphabet boxes, reading booklets, introduction to grammar, story books and poems.  

Math:

Math in the Montessori environment is one of the richest subject areas. It helps children make sense of the world around them.  It strengthens children’s problem-solving and reasoning processes. Montessori math materials help children approach math with hands-on, visual, and physical learning aids. These materials allow children to attach concrete knowledge to the often-abstract concepts in math.  As children progress through the Montessori math framework, the materials become more abstract, as students internalize more of the knowledge scaffolded by the materials. The Montessori math shelves includes materials such as sandpaper numbers, Number rods, cards and counters, Decimal System, Patterns, and shapes.

Cultural:

The Cultural Studies area of the classroom focuses on Geography, Science, Botany, Zoology, Art, and Music. Exploring these subjects  provide children with an opportunity to explore their curiosity of different worldly ideas. Studying Geography allows children the opportunity to understand the immensity of their planet as well as understanding their own culture and that of others. Children can relate and understand cultural diversity and ultimately come to appreciate differences between humankind and compassion for one another. Children also learn about their planet through the world maps.  Learning names of the continents and oceans, countries and rivers and its place on Earth.  Theme programming is a part of sensorial learning.  Further studies are planned planned on each continent/country.  As an extension foods, music, clothing, and cultures will all be explored. Children are encouraged to share special artifacts or invite a family member to give a presentation.

Yoga, Music and Movement 

Yoga: Children derive enormous benefits from yoga. Physically, it enhances their flexibility, strength, coordination, and body awareness. In addition, their concentration and sense of calmness and relaxation improves. Doing yoga, children exercise, play, connect more deeply with the inner self, and develop an intimate relationship with the natural world that surrounds them. 

Dance combinations increase memory, order, and sequencing skills. Creating dances also increases self-esteem which is so very important to learning. Utilizing dance in academics also helps children develop skills that are necessary for learning such as creativity, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration.

Music is a fantastic opportunity for children who are not yet able to put their thoughts into words. Young musicians and dancers learn skills like balance, control, and coordination. Singing and movement is also good aerobic exercise linked to stress reduction, physical fitness, and overall good health.

Play is the work of children. Through play, motor skills are propelled, children learn to build relationships, consider others, take risks, solve problems, develop their senses, express themselves creatively, experiment, work on their social skills, establish their independence, grasp values, make choices, move freely, and fuel their imaginations as they gain knowledge.