West River Montessori School follows the Montessori educational approach developed by Dr. Maria Montessori. We provide a learning environment that encourages independent exploration, hands-on activities, and mixed-age classrooms. At our School, children develop self-discipline, curiosity, and holistic growth in their cognitive, social, and emotional abilities.
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.
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.
Our Methods
The Child
All growth must come from voluntary action of the child himself/herself. To encourage this voluntary action, the child spends their morning or afternoon in non-competitive situations, stimulated by other children, older and younger, guided individually by the teacher, and proceeding to each aspect of the program at his/her own pace. He/she is permitted to complete at a sitting whatever task he/she is doing. The children work together or alone, on mats on the floor or at tables, and may move about the room freely as long as they respect the activities of the others and return the equipment they use to its proper place.
The Teacher
The teacher guides each child in the use of materials (which are self-correcting), and then leaves him/her to practice and perfect their understanding of the lesson themselves. The teacher deals with him/her as an individual worthy of respect and the only active agent in the learning process. The teacher keeps a detailed record of each child's activity and progress.
The Classroom
The classroom is a child-sized world, with chairs, tables, and shelves all appropriate size. It is a unique feature of the "Prepared Environment," that every object in the classroom has a specific place and purpose.
All growth must come from voluntary action of the child himself/herself. To encourage this voluntary action, the child spends their morning or afternoon in non-competitive situations, stimulated by other children, older and younger, guided individually by the teacher, and proceeding to each aspect of the program at his/her own pace. He/she is permitted to complete at a sitting whatever task he/she is doing. The children work together or alone, on mats on the floor or at tables, and may move about the room freely as long as they respect the activities of the others and return the equipment they use to its proper place.
The Teacher
The teacher guides each child in the use of materials (which are self-correcting), and then leaves him/her to practice and perfect their understanding of the lesson themselves. The teacher deals with him/her as an individual worthy of respect and the only active agent in the learning process. The teacher keeps a detailed record of each child's activity and progress.
The Classroom
The classroom is a child-sized world, with chairs, tables, and shelves all appropriate size. It is a unique feature of the "Prepared Environment," that every object in the classroom has a specific place and purpose.
How does a Montessori classroom differ from a Traditional classroom?
Montessori Classroom
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Traditional Classroom
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