SMALL WORLD MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL PROGRAM

WHY CHOOSE MONTESSORI FOR PRESCHOOL & WHY IT IS MORE THAN JUST CHILDCARE

The Montessori classroom provides a prepared environment where children are naturally driven to work and learn. The child’s inherent love of learning is encouraged by giving them the opportunity to engage in meaningful hands on activities. Through these activities, children develop independence, concentration, persistence, and discipline. Within this framework of order, they progress at their own pace and rhythm according to their own interests and abilities.

Montessori facilitates a natural love for learning. We follow the child. Once children adjust to a Montessori classroom, they see, enjoy, and discover more about the world. The Montessori materials naturally inspire the inquisitive nature of the child leading them to think of new ways to do things. They open the child to learn for themselves.

Montessori seeks to educate the whole child and takes their education beyond the class room. Montessori equips the child for everyday life. They acquire practical skills giving them purpose and enabling them to be a contributing member of their family, classroom, and community.

Montessori focuses on the individual child and their potential. A traditional education often has a set curriculum based on the child’s age with the expectation that children need to progress through material at the same pace and each attain optimal results. It just doesn’t happen. It won’t happen. Why? Because no two children are at the same spot in their development. In a Montessori environment, both students can meet their full potential and work at their own pace. Learn more about the Montessori Approach HERE

We work on five major areas: Language, Mathematics, Cultural Subjects, Practical Life and Sensorial. Continue reading below for more information!

“Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words, but by experiences in the environment.”

– Maria Montessori

Practical Life: The Practical Life area is the foundation of the classroom. In this area, you will find works that strengthen the child’s fine motor skills and sense of order. In addition, there are many activities to teach the child to care for themselves and their environment. Purposeful works like pouring, buttoning, and table scrubbing build the child’s confidence and motivate them to explore other areas of the classroom. Art is also located in this area.

Sensorial: The Sensorial area has a variety of works to educate the senses. The child develops her senses by exploring shapes, sounds, colors, and sizes. In this area, you will find activities like the Pink Tower and the Knobbed Cylinder Blocks.

Mathematics: The Mathematics area allows the child to concretely work with manipulatives unique to a Montessori classroom. The extensive curriculum spans from the basic works of one through ten and sequentially progresses to working to 1000. Other activities include addition, subtraction, and fractions.

Language: The Language area contains many pre-reading activities like recognizing opposites, rhyming, and matching. These works along with phonics establish the foundation for learning to read. Once the child masters short vowel reading and writing, consonant blends, long vowels, and grammar are introduced. Handwriting is an essential part of this area.

Cultural Subjects: This unique Montessori area contains both science and cultural activities. A wide variety of works that teach zoology, botany, geography, and telling time are available. Using a hands-on approach, the children discover nature and the world around them. Creating maps of the world is a favorite activity in this area.

The curriculum for Preschool becomes more challenging and does require daily attendance. Our Preschool Class starts at 8:30 am and concludes at 11:30. All enrolled students are eligible for Full Time Childcare starting as early as 7:00 am till 5:30 pm. If your child is not enrolled in care or any additional programs pick up time is between 11:30 and 11:45 am.

A typical day for our full time Preschool students would include lunch time starting at 11:45 am. Story time at 12:15 pm, naps starting at 12:30 and waking around 2:30 pm. When the children wake from nap we have snack time followed by group time. At 3:15 pm the children have recess; length and time is contingent on the weather. From 4:00-5:30 pm (end of day) the children have free play in an environment enriched with imaginative, artistic and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities.

Available for children at the age of 4 is our K4 & K5 Program. If your child is no longer napping, is interested in doing more advanced curriculum, and able to follow directions, they may be ready for a more advanced school day! Read more about our  K4 & K5 Program HERE.

All of our classrooms have a Lead Teacher and an Assistant. Our Preschool Classrooms accommodate up to 25 students. Ages typically range between 3-6 years, but since placement is based on child readiness and tioleting, it can be as young as 2 1/2 years! Our teachers are Montessori trained and certified. Meet our teachers below and for more information please read our FAQ’s or reach out to schedule a tour!