Our school environment is dedicated to nurturing a child’s inherent curiosity by enabling children to explore and discover. Our classrooms and materials are designed to stimulate the child’s senses as well as to respond to the preschool child’s need for order within the world. In our carefully prepared environments children work independently, of their own initiative, developing concentration and self-discipline.

Language

The Spoken Word to the Written Word

The language curriculum progresses from oral language activities and prereading work to writing and ultimately to reading comprehension. The aims of the oral language activities include the development of listening skills, comprehension and vocabulary as well as the ability to express oneself with confidence. The materials for written language introduce the child to the letters of the alphabet and their sounds. The child then goes on to compose words and sentences using the moveable alphabet. All aspects of language development are occurring simultaneously and it is the teacher’s role to observe readiness for each new lesson.

Sensorial

Exploring the World through the Five Senses

Sensorial Education is the foundation for intellectual edification, teaching, and learning through the Five Senses: Visual, Auditory, Tactile, Olfactory (smell) and Gustatory and reinforce the direct aims of the Everyday Living Curriculum. The three aims consist of:

*Biological: helps in the natural development of the individual (the ability to use our senses refines the use of our bodies)

** Social: offers the children practice for a community setting, behavior and manners. Children become aware of their environment and things around them.

***Psychic: refers to the psychic life of a child. It is the mental and emotional aspects. The psychic life is enhanced through physical and social development.

The three aims are re-harmonized through Sensorial materials that are designed systemically.  Such as the pink tower, geometric solids, sound cylinders and color tablets. These help a child to understand and internalize the concepts of size, shape, color, taste, touch and sound.  Sensorial materials enhance the skills and are the foundation of:

*The mathematical mind (measurement, size, weight and volume).

Math

Journeying form the Concrete to the Abstract

Lessons presented in the practical life and sensorial curriculum lay the
groundwork for the child to begin to explore the world of math. The
concrete math materials enable the naturally mathematical mind of the
preschool child to journey form the concrete to the abstract through
manipulation and experimentation. Children first explore the concept of
quantity or “how many”. The Montessori materials build on each other in a natural progression, encouraging the child to explore and discover. From there the child moves on to using symbols or written quantities and then begins to combine quantities for the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Everyday Living

The Skills of Daily Living.

The Everyday Living area in the preprimary classroom is the first area in the classroom that gives the child the skill to be able to be independent, building up confidence, concentration, coordination and order.  This area is the basis of all the other curriculum areas of the classroom and gives the child the skills to be successful.   Examples of Everyday Living lessons include care of the person (buttoning, zipping, tying); care of the environment (cleaning, polishing, food preparation); small and gross motor development (pouring, cutting, balancing); and social development (interpersonal skills, grace and courtesy, speaking, participating in a group).

Cultural and Science Activities

Botany, Zoology, Geography and Science

Geography and the sciences make up the cultural component of the
preschool program. The geography curriculum introduces the concepts of land and water forms, the study of cultures and custom, and the
understanding of fundamental human needs through exploration of the seven continents. The science curriculum is aimed at developing an awareness of science concepts through discovery and experimentation. Included within the curriculum are hands-on lessons in the areas of botany, zoology and physical science.