Our PreSchool / Kindergarten Curriculum

Our PreSchool / Kindergarten Curriculum

A three to six-year old child possesses what Dr. Maria Montessori called the absorbent mind or the ability to absorb all aspects of his/her culture and environment without effort or fatigue. As an aid to this period of the child’s self-construction, work (Montessori lessons) offers the appropriate cognitive stimulation. Emotional development occurs naturally as the child interacts with his peers and teachers and progresses through the different levels of materials in the Montessori classroom.

The four areas of education found in a Montessori classroom( Practical Life, Sensorial Development, Mathematics and Language) serve to cultivate the child’s ability to express and think with clarity and in an organized manner.

Practical Life

Practical Life exercises help instill the need and methods for care of one’s self and his/her environment. These lessons help develop muscular coordination and physical independence. They also help to establish early rituals of concentration.

Sensorial

Sensorial materials serve as tools for developing and refining the child’s senses as he/she learns to order and classify impressions by working with the Montessori lessons on touching, seeing, smelling, tasting, listening and exploring the physical properties of the environment.

Language

Language experiences are rich and varied in the Montessori classroom. Oral language opportunities, allowing the child to experience conversations, stories and poetry, are on going. The sandpaper letters and the movable alphabet help the child to link the sound and the symbol for words effortlessly, encouraging the development of written expression and reading skills at an early age.

Geography, Biology, Botany, Zoology and Spanish

Geography, Biology, Botany, Zoology and Spanish are presented as extensions of the sensorial and language activities. Children learn about people and cultures in other countries with an attitude of respect and admiration. Through familiarity, children come to feel connected to the global human family. Lessons and experiences with nature inspire a reverence for all life.

Mathematics

Mathematics activities help the child to learn and understand the concepts of math (counting, numerical symbols, hierarchy of numbers, addition, subtraction, multiplication, etc.) by manipulating concrete materials. These lessons help to formulate an image in the child’s mind which will serve as a foundation for future higher levels of math.

Music and Art

Music and Art provide the children with opportunities to enjoy a variety of creative activities, as well as gain knowledge of the great masters.

The lessons in all areas of the Montessori classroom are multi-level and designed to be introduced to each child individually, based upon the readiness of the child. A natural progression through the materials is accomplished during the course of a child’s years in the Montessori environment. Support and encouragement are given to a child with the introduction of each new lesson. The lessons are self-correcting, allowing the teacher to be supportive and positive in the assessment of the child’s work.

THE BLAKE SCHOOL

The Blake School is a unique institution where over the last fifty years, traditional Montessori methods have been combined with the latest educational technology tools to create a hybrid learning environment that prepares your child for the technology-driven future. Additionally, our low student-teacher ratio allows us to know every student at our school and their parents by name….
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