Structure of the West River Montessori School Classroom
Children learn how to use Montessori materials through lessons by the Head Teacher. The materials available for the children to work with in the classroom changes throughout the school year. In the beginning of the year there are more activities that bridge home and school life. As the year continues, children receive lessons at circle, individually during work time as well as from other children. Once a child has had a lesson with a material, or 'work' as it is often referred, they are encouraged to use it whenever they like for as long as they like, as long as the material is respected.
The Montessori classroom is divided into 5 curriculum areas:
1. Practical Life
In practical life children gain the fundamental skills required for learning. They include, but are not limited to, coordination, concerntration, independence, order and self-esteem. Children also refine skills that they may already have, such as pouring (to learn to pour their own drinks at snack), dressing frames (to learn to take care of them), and child-sized cleaning tools (to learn to clean up spills and care for their environment). Practical life also includes the art area where supplies are available for the children to explore their own artistic abilities. Occasionally, there are seasonally-related art projects, but each finished project reflects the children's individual personality.
2. Sensorial
The materials in the sensorial area all share the same developmental goals including the refinement of the ability to observe, compare, discriminate, differentiate, reason, decide, problem solve and appreciate the world. This area of the curriculum helps children sort out the myriad of impressions that they gather through their ability to absorb so much information from their surroundings.
3. Math
In the math area, children learn beginning math concepts such as one-to-one correspondence and number identification. Children learn about fractions, patterning and how complex numberss are formed. The Montessori math curriculum can bring children up to a first grade math level.
4. Language
In the language area of the Montessori classroom, children learn early reading concepts, such as rhyming, opposites and sequencing. They start to learn letter sounds and practice writing their names. If a child remains in the Montessori classroom for two or more years, they may begin reading simple three letter words or more.
5. Cultural Studies
Cultural studies include everything from zoology to biology to physical sciences to learning about other cultures and history. This is a very large area of interest and has more information than a teacher has time to cover in one school year. Children remaining in the Montessori classroom for two or more years will cover many, if not all, of the interesting topics.
The Montessori classroom is divided into 5 curriculum areas:
1. Practical Life
In practical life children gain the fundamental skills required for learning. They include, but are not limited to, coordination, concerntration, independence, order and self-esteem. Children also refine skills that they may already have, such as pouring (to learn to pour their own drinks at snack), dressing frames (to learn to take care of them), and child-sized cleaning tools (to learn to clean up spills and care for their environment). Practical life also includes the art area where supplies are available for the children to explore their own artistic abilities. Occasionally, there are seasonally-related art projects, but each finished project reflects the children's individual personality.
2. Sensorial
The materials in the sensorial area all share the same developmental goals including the refinement of the ability to observe, compare, discriminate, differentiate, reason, decide, problem solve and appreciate the world. This area of the curriculum helps children sort out the myriad of impressions that they gather through their ability to absorb so much information from their surroundings.
3. Math
In the math area, children learn beginning math concepts such as one-to-one correspondence and number identification. Children learn about fractions, patterning and how complex numberss are formed. The Montessori math curriculum can bring children up to a first grade math level.
4. Language
In the language area of the Montessori classroom, children learn early reading concepts, such as rhyming, opposites and sequencing. They start to learn letter sounds and practice writing their names. If a child remains in the Montessori classroom for two or more years, they may begin reading simple three letter words or more.
5. Cultural Studies
Cultural studies include everything from zoology to biology to physical sciences to learning about other cultures and history. This is a very large area of interest and has more information than a teacher has time to cover in one school year. Children remaining in the Montessori classroom for two or more years will cover many, if not all, of the interesting topics.
