curriculum
The Montessori Method of education which is our curriculum, was founded by Dr. Maria Montessori.
She believed that the goal of early childhood education should not be to fill the child with facts from a pre-selected course of studies but rather, to cultivate his/her own natural desire to learn and absorb. A Montessori classroom is a specially designed “prepared environment” in which this concept is apparent and, by intent, encompasses the mental, physical, social and aesthetic development of a child in a space that is void of irrelevance and inflexibility.
During the hours a child spends in a Montessori classroom, the adult's direction (teaching) and the materials used, are focused on 5 essential areas, some of which are exclusive to the Montessori Method of education.
When a child is enrolled in a Montessori school, we place him/her in a class of children between the ages of 2 – 6 years of age and keep that child in the same environment until it is time for the child to move to a primary school. (It is envisaged that the average child, by this time, will be ready for primary/grade school.) In this manner, the child will enjoy a conducive learning environment, which is void of stress and affords every opportunity for the child to become self-motivated, be creative and to nurture self-respect.
We believe that a class of mixed ages is advantageous to both younger and older children as the younger children learn by observing the older children and the older children reinforce what they have already mastered when helping the younger children.
The Montessori curriculum is very broad based and covers traditional and uniquely Montessori subjects as given below. We intend to present subject matter from all given topics as explained:
The Exercises of Practical Life
Sensorial Materials
Language(s)
Mathematics
Cultural Studies
Sciences
Development of social behavior and physical activity
Each of the above areas will be presented in simple format, even to the youngest child, and presentations will grow in complexity as the child matures in the environment.
The Montessori curriculum is non-graded and non-competitive, thus allowing the children to work and grow in an environment that permits their individual potential to reach its own level and at its own pace, without any negative or judgmental pressure.
However, it is the trained adult's (Directress') responsibility to be aware of what is required of the child, when he/she enters primary school, at the end of the Montessori education period and guide that child towards the desired goals or benchmarks. As our philosophy encourages children to learn void of stress, these goals are usually easily achieved. Thereafter, the transition to primary school is normal and well accepted by the child.
The teachers in the school will be trained/qualified UMA (UNITED MONTESSORI ASSOCIATION) Directresses, who are trained to observe the children and present them with activities according to their individual needs.
The Directress acts as a go-between the child and the materials in the environment. The student-teacher ratio would be 2 adults to 22 - 24 children or pro-rated, depending on the size of the classrooms and subject to licensing criteria in the schools we operate.
PRESENTATION
The presentation of an activity in the Montessori environment takes the place of a lesson in an ordinary school. There are two types of presentations:
Intentional presentations – that are made only after observation and according to the needs of the child. The trained adult is always prepared for this.
Unintentional presentations – this is something that an adult does spontaneously. Every act that is committed by an adult in the class is being observed and may be repeated by the children, e.g. how a teacher talks, sits, etc.
