The Content of Montessori

The Montessori Matters curriculum caters for children from 2 ½ to 6 years. The children enter a prepared and ordered environment. There is no front or back to the classroom, nor do the children have particular desks. The materials are kept on low open shelves where there is intentionally only one of each piece of equipment. This encourages self-discipline, as each child must wait its turn. They are given the opportunity and responsibility of choosing their own work and over a period, the children develop into a kinship, working with high concentration and with few interruptions. The children learn to co-operate and interact successfully with other classmates and teachers.

In Montessori the teaching goes from simple to complex, first introducing the topic gradually, as a whole, and then going into specific detail, always refining the information increasing the child’s knowledge. For example, the children first learn about the world and what it is made of, they then explore each continent, and then refine their learning to their own country.

The Montessori curriculum allows children preparing for primary to develop their full potential, building their leadership skills and confidence, establishing them as valued and respected members of their community.

Subjects

The Montessori materials within the classroom environment are a starting block. The materials give each child the vocabulary needed to start out life with. They are the tools to get him started with the environment as the building block. The Montessori work is taught to the children on a one to one basis at their own pace.

Practical Life

The Practical Life activities are the first activities introduced and allow your child to try to do what adults around him are seen to do every day. The Practical Life area of a classroom is an extension your child’s own home environment. Its aims are to develop his independence, intelligence, concentration, co-ordination, control, motor skills, social skills and self-discipline. The Practical Life exercises are broken down into four key areas:

1. Elementary Movements - develops the child’s manipulative skills and body co-ordination e.g. pouring, cutting, folding, threading

2. Care of the Person - teaches the child how to look after himself and his property e.g. putting on his coat, tying his shoelaces, folding his clothes

3. Care of the Environment - teaches the child tasks he will need and use within his environment e.g. dusting, tidying up, setting a table, cooking skills

4. Social Skills, Grace and Courtesy - teaches the child to understand his role in society and what kind of conduct is acceptable e.g. how to speak in a group, polite greetings, disposing of litter r

Sensorial

Sensorial exercises are for the development and refreshment of the child’s five senses, thereby sharpening his intellect and control preparing him for more advanced exercises in maths, language and geometry. The exercises give each child the vocabulary they need to start out with, words such as height, width, etc. The child then takes these words and uses them in his environment. The child completes one step at a time, progressively moving from simple to complex. Where possible, each sense is isolated to provide an intense experience. Exercises include, the Colour Boxes, the Touch Tablets and the Sound Boxes.

Language

Language is involved in every aspect of the Montessori environment from Practical Life to Sensorial but it is also introduced through a step-by-step programme starting with the Sandpaper Letters. Each child will be introduced to sounds and words developing their reading and writing skills. Exercises include, the Large Moveable Alphabet, Object and Word Boxes, Sentence Strips.

Culture

Culture is made up of History, Geography, Science, Nature and Fine Arts. The subjects develop each child’s individual skills, increase their vocabulary and reading skills, increase their knowledge, develop their physical skills, satisfy their senses, teach them changes and life cycles in life and nature, and teach them ecology and aspects of different cultures. Culture helps the child understand where he is in the world and the important contribution he has to offer. Exercises include, the Sandpaper Globe, the Jigsaw Map of the Continents, and Sandpaper Landforms.

Maths

Maths is introduced the child from the first day. It teaches them the study of form, quantity, numbers and relations. It allows him to understand analysis and clear reasoning. It teaches him to sort events into classes and categories and introduces awareness of relationships between classes and categories. Above all, it teaches logic. Exercises include, the Number Rods, Cards and Counters, Naming with Beads.