Preschool
"We seek to sow life in the child rather than theories—to help
him in his growth, mental and emotional, as well as physical—and for that we
must offer grand and lofty ideas of the human world."
-- Maria Montessori
Our main goal for the preschool child, ages three to five years old, is to help
them learn to work independently, to take care of one's needs, and develop a
good self image. Children have different interests at different times. Maria
Montessori called this “sensitive periods”. We respect these differences and
have unique expectations for each child. Children are always free to move around
the room instead of staying at desks. There is no limit to how long a child can
work on something she has chosen. Opportunities for both individualized learning
and large group experiences occur naturally in this multi-age setting of three
to five year olds. The wide variety of activities and materials nourish
self-confidence, concentration, cooperation, and respect for others.
The Primary classroom includes areas of Practical Life, Sensorial Exercises,
Mathematics, and Language Development. Lessons are also given in history,
geometry, biology, geology, and geography. Art, music, and literature are
integrated into the classroom activities.
The organization of experiences and impressions is guided by a multi-sensory
approach. The child discovers reading through phonics, mathematical concepts
through concrete materials, and geographical relationships and scientific
information through manipulating objects and real life materials.