The environment is fundamental to the curriculum in a Montessori school. Activities are placed on open shelves for selection as interest
and readiness inspire the child. The homelike quality of our school contributes to a relaxed, focused experience for the child, who may move freely between
several different rooms. Our outdoor environment offers a beautiful, developed playground and picnic area with climbing structures, sand play, tricycles,
pet rabbits and garden. The nearby library, park and stores offer convenient enrichments to our school environment.
The child learns to care for himself and the environment with simple exercises
which develop muscular dexterity, coordination, order, independence, respect
for others and self-esteem. Exercises in grace and courtesy enhance the
child's socialization process. Care for our garden and school animals
develop the child's appreciation of the natural world.
The child works with materials which help her to refine sense
discriminations and to become more aware of the surrounding world:
to recognize and compare various colors, shapes, sizes, textures, and
sounds. Sand-and-water-table play enhance the child's experience of
discovery in these areas as do other play activities. Sensorial
activities may be used together and in games which invite and enhance
the child's creative exploration.
A rich verbal environment helps the child to develop
vocabulary and self-expression. Social and verbal interactions between
children are encouraged. Puppet and block play areas, tea party table
and dollhouse play enrich the child's language experience. Stories are
read and dramatized. Books are made about many experiences.
The child works with sandpaper letters and other materials which help
him to discover reading as he or she becomes ready.
Math materials consist of a progression of objects
designed to show concrete qualities of numbers and operations.
The goal of our program is to give the child a strong foundation for
forming abstract ideas about numbers and a love for the beauty of mathematics.
Experiences in art, music, woodworking, cultures
of the world, science, geography, botany and history are designed to
enhance the child's creativity and symbolic capacities and to deepen
her curiosity about the world. The cultural subjects curriculum attempts
to unify all aspects of the child's learning. Cultural subjects themes
are developed in depth and change over time, permeating all areas of
the curriculum.