Pre-school / Pre-k / Kindergarten Program
(2-1/2 years to 6 years)
The program involves a series a sequential, developmental, manipulative,
and sensorial activities that are designed to ultimately bridge the gap between concrete
and abstract learning.
Classrooms are meticulously prepared to meet the developmental needs of the children. The children use learning materials, created by Dr. Montessori, that are multi-sensory and sequential. The material acts as a facilitator of learning and role models. Holding a worldview of education, Little Blossom graduates are self-motivated, joyful learners, creative problem solvers, and confident young adults prepared for the inevitable challenges of life.
The Montessori Classroom is divided into six basic areas:
1. Practical Life
2. Sensorial
3. Language
4. Mathematics
5. Science
6. Art / Craft / Music
Practical Life
This is the area where the child may first choose independent work. The practical life area contains many attractively displayed object familiar to the child, including a variety of items commonly used in the tasks of daily living, such as eating, dressing, and cleaning. This area develops independence and a sense of order through the use of practical life materials. This area includes lessons in grace and courtesy, the care of the environment, care of self, as well as a variety of activities that facilitates development of fine and gross motor skills and eye hand coordination. Through repetition of the practical life exercises, the child attains a sense of order, concentration, coordination and independence as well as establishing a foundation for future learning. Back to top.
Sensorial
The basic sensorial exercise inspires careful observation and calls attention to specific qualities requiring identification of similarities and contrasts. This area contains materials which aid in the development of the intellectual senses. The materials are designed to advance the child’s ability to define qualities such as color, size, sound, texture, and shape. In addition, they strengthen the visual, auditory, and tactile senses. Often described as self-correcting and diagnostic, the sensorial materials are concrete representations of abstract concepts. Back to top.
Language
Language development is a concern of the entire Montessori classroom. With different activities the children improve vocabulary development, communication skills, writing and reading readiness.
In the language area we will find a large variety of reading readiness materials, including materials for phonetic analysis, word attack skills and reading, as well as materials for the refinement of motor control for writing. The language materials and strategies develop visual and conceptual memory through sorting, classification, matching, rhyming, and language games. The classroom environment is designed to incorporate language into every activity. Language development is encouraged through freedom of conversation by enabling language to become an integral part of the life of the classroom. There is a continuous encouragement of self-expression and communication, child to child, and child to teacher. Back to top.
Mathematics
The central purpose of the Math materials in the early years is to lay the foundation for later cognitive development and to prepare for the gradual transition to abstract thinking. This offers the children a concrete mathematical experience with numerals. The Montessori materials allow children to build a concrete foundation for abstract mathematical concepts. The manipulative materials build upon the child’s solid understanding of what makes a number. Once a firm grounding in the concept of numbers from one to ten, has been established, the child can explore the concepts of addition and subtraction, building a conceptual image of the process of manipulating numbers. Back to top.
Science
Science is an integral element of the Montessori curriculum. Among other things, it represents a way of life: a clear thinking approach to gathering information and problem solving. The scope of the Montessori science curriculum includes a sound introduction to botany, zoology, chemistry, physics, geology and astronomy. The Montessori approach to science cultivates children's fascination with the universe and helps them develop a lifelong interest in observing nature and discovering more about the world in which we live.
Our teachers introduce history and geography as early as age two and half. The youngest students work with specially designed maps and begin to learn the names of the world's continents and countries. Later the students see the world's cultures in greater depth. They learn to treasure the richness of their own cultural heritage and those of their friends. Back to top.
Arts / Crafts and Music
Arts and Crafts in a Montessori Classroom is a way for children to express there thoughts and creativity. Children get to express their feelings, the way they see things visually and their views of it. They Write stories and feel productive while drawing pictures.
Art is pretty much incorporated into the Cultural and Practical Life areas of the classroom. Here, the children learn to cut, paste and be creative. The children also learn about different artists and their art. The children also get to work on group or individual projects related to the unit study they are working on in the Cultural area.
Music and movement education will also be important parts of the curriculum as well as the Arts. They offer children ways to express themselves, their feelings, experiences and ideas. The teachers are very interested in helping children develop control of their fine and gross-motor movement. They are exposed to different kinds of instruments. Back to top.
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