Curriculum
The Montessori Curriculum is a three-year spiral curriculum. Each activity leads directly to a new level of learning. This is accomplished by starting with simple skills and progressing to multiple skills; working with two hands and progressing to one-handed tasks; the presentation of materials from left to right and top to bottom; and the difficulty of the task, starting with large motor skills and refining to fine motor control. Through practice and continuing challenges, children develop a sense of order, concentration, coordination and independence. As the child progresses, the work changes from concrete to abstract.
The Montessori classroom is comprised of five different areas: Exercises of Practical Life, Sensorial Activities, Language, Mathematics and Culture.
Practical Life
Practical Life activities help the child develop coordination, concentration, gain independence, and a sense of order. Through the exercises of Practical Life, the child develops the self-confidence and attention essential for mastery of the other more advanced areas of the Montessori classroom.
The exercises of Practical Life fall into four major categories: Care of the Self, Care of the Environment, Grace and Courtesy, and Control of Movement. Some examples of exercises include buttoning, flower arranging, polishing, using tools, sweeping the floor, peeling vegetables, etc. Many are fundamental exercises that the child needs to master to be able to live comfortably in the real world.
If you have a vision of the cosmic purpose, that every life in the world is based on this movement with a purpose, you will be able to understand and better direct the children's work. In the beginning, children are urged by nature to be active. They are happy when they are active. They begin to develop the behaviour of humanity with its limits and its possibilities. Movement is closely connected to psychic life; we must move with intelligence, will, character, etc.” -Montessori, Maria. The 1946 London Lectures.
Sensorial
The purpose of Sensorial Activities is for the child to acquire clear conscious information and to be able to then make classifications in their environment. The apparatus in this area is specifically designed to cover every quality that can be perceived by the senses- such as size, composition, dimensions, weight, texture, weight, temperature, etc. The child is given the opportunity to pair, sort, and grade the material.
The mind develops through its senses. Appropriate experiences create new neuro networks and help the integration of knowledge, thus becoming a useful mental organization to which knowledge can be added.
With the aid of scientifically designed materials addressing the different senses, the senses become more acute and related vocabulary is expanded and refined.
Whilst exploring the concepts of materials, the child also learns the language associated with sound, colors, tastes, shapes, weights, dimensions and olfactory.
Language
The main aim in the Montessori language curriculum is to enable the child to express himself as fully as possible for his own satisfaction and communication. This is accomplished by developing auditory perception of sounds in words, associating sounds with symbols, expressing thoughts in symbolic form, awareness that the written word has within it the ability to carry a message or communicate a thought and to enrich a child’s vocabulary. All this leads to the ability to express one’s thoughts in spoken and written form.
Activities are presented in an orderly manner to prepare the child for writing and reading. For example, Sandpaper letters make kinesthetic connections between the letter symbol and the sound. Letters are the symbols of the sounds we make. Matching the symbol to the sound is the first step to writing.
Children build their own understanding of how sounds are represented by symbols, and often spontaneously “explode” into writing, which naturally appears several months before reading. Dr Maria Montessori emphasized writing before reading. Montessori reading is based on this strong foundation of phonics. There is an array of materials that aid in refining motor skills strength and prepare the hand for future writing.
The Montessori environment is rich in opportunity for vocabulary development and enrichment, rich conversations and experiences. The materials assist development of both oral and written language.
Mathematics
The Montessori materials for mathematics aid with the association of quantity and its symbols. The materials are designed to give children a deep understanding of numbers and their relationship. Math is introduced in a sensorial and concrete manner allowing the child to see, hold and feel the number or quantity. With many opportunities to manipulate with concrete material, the children are gradually led to an abstract understanding.
The work that the children engage in allow them to become familiar with the decimal system and concrete experiences with the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The goal is not to only learn how to calculate, but to gain a deep understanding of how numbers function and the relationship between quantity and symbol.
Culture
The Cultural area in Montessori includes subject areas such as geography, social studies, earth sciences, botany, zoology, art and music. This area allows children to explore and gain an understanding of the world at large. Children are introduced to scientific names of plants and animals. They are introduced to the seven continents, oceans, land and water forms, and study each continent in greater depth. In Art, children are provided with opportunities to use various mediums such as oil pastels, various types of paints, clay, etc. In Music, children are exposed to various composers and music of different musical periods such as Baroque, Classical and Romantic period. Additionally, one-on-one music lessons are available for those who are interested.