Children's House
3-6 years
Available at all locations
The design and flow of the Children’s House creates a learning environment that accommodates choice. There are well-defined spaces for each part of the curriculum, such as Language, Math, Sensorial, Practical Life, and Culture. Each of these areas feature shelves with a variety of inviting, concrete materials from which children can choose, providing abstraction and introduction of concepts that become increasingly complex. An important part of Montessori education is to help each child participate in the 3-year cycle. Children of different ages work together and enjoy mentoring each other. The curriculum is presented by ability, not age, and with each year, children build a foundation upon which future learning is structured. The preparedness of the guides allows children to learn at their own pace, using their senses to explore and discover the world.
Practical Life
Children develop order, coordination, concentration, and independence with practical life exercises. The child desires to seek physical and mental independence and finds it with daily routine tasks. Practical life exercises give the child the opportunity not only to practice fine and gross motor coordination, but a sense of order is also developed when lessons are done following a step by step process which includes left to right, top to bottom movements, as this prepares the child for reading and writing.
Sensorial
The purpose of the sensorial work is to refine the child’s senses through the exploration of the environment. Children learn to organize, categorize and understand their world through the use of senses. The sensorial exercises present every quality that can be perceived by sense, such as size, shape, composition, texture, flavor, sound, weight, and temperature. In addition, it also gives the child a basic concept of mathematics.
Mathematics
Math is the study of using numbers in different forms, and it prepares the child for logical thought, order and sequencing. The child is introduced to math concepts and processes through the manipulations of concrete objects. Repeating exercises allows reasoning and problem solving. It is not unusual to see children in this environment building the decimal system with golden beads, which eventually will allow the child to do all four operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The knowledge and understanding of these concepts are due to the concrete experience rather than the abstract.
Language
The environment provides rich opportunities for oral language where the child is listened to and talked to with respect. Our guides model precise language in everyday activities with the child, encouraging conversations. Materials such as the sandpaper letters and movable alphabet help the child to link the sounds with the letters which will turn into writing and reading.
Geography, History, and Social Studies
Cultural studies are an integral part of the Montessori environment. Children learn about the world, the people and cultures of other countries, developing an attitude of respect and appreciation of diversity. The goal is to introduce facts about life, the earth, and the universe, immersing them in nature as much as possible.
“I know my child is in the best environment to meet his needs. I couldn't ask for a more loving community!”
Jane Smith
“This is the way learning is supposed to be."
Henry Baker
“Sending our children here was the best decision we’ve made as parents."
Anna Sacks
