Early
Childhood
Also known as Kindergarten
Ages 2 through 6 years (mixed age classroom).
At Chestnut Montessori, our early childhood curriculum is designed and implemented to support the needs and abilities of the whole child in his/her physical, social and intellectual development. The curriculum is introduced individually as a child demonstrates readiness. We incorporate a STEAM curriculum that aligns beautifully with the classical Montessori approach.
Our specially prepared environment fosters independence, competence and confidence as students become self-directed learners.
Children learn best when the promise of Sensitive Periods are fulfilled. Sensitive Periods are transitory times of effortless learning, when students can absorb specific nomenclature and information. Guided by our highly educated Montessori teachers, each child's innate abilities, intelligence and creativity unfolds.
early childhood CURRICULUM
Our integrated curriculum is sequential, and our highly trained, credentialed teachers observe students at work to facilitate their understanding of each little person. Each activity has a direct purpose, designed to aid the child's immediate development; and an indirect purpose which prepares the child for future academic work.
Lessons of Grace and Courtesy which encourage character development and respectful relationships are woven throughout the curriculum. Throughout the school day students have access to all classroom learning materials and move readily from one activity to another.
Practical life lessons
The lessons of Practical Life engage the child in meaningful activity or “work.” These activities allow children to imitate adult activities while assisting fine motor development, eye-hand coordination, concentration, attention span and independence, preparing students for academic work ahead.
Practical Life lessons incorporate concepts such as classification, volume, equivalency, similarity, less than and greater than, pairing, balance and Geometry. Activities such as folding cloths and bead stringing, in which the child crosses the midline of the body, facilitate the development of neuropathways across the left and right sides of the brain.
Areas of Practical Life include Grace & Courtesy, Perceptual Motor Development, Visual Motor Coordination, Care of the Person, Care of the Environment, Food Preparation and Art.
OUR PROGRAM
While lessons are usually presented individually, some are given in family groupings to facilitate interest and social development. Daily circle gatherings promote oral language, physical development, self-confidence and leadership skills through songs, stories, poems, finger plays and other language activities.
Our goal/promise is to provide many memorable experiences for our students. Our outdoor environment enriches our students' school experiences.
A natural play yard, fruit and vegetable gardens, pumpkin patch and apple trees provide many opportunities for students to explore and participate in nature studies.
Grace and Courtesy
These activities help the child internalize social and problem-solving skills and assist students in becoming successful members of their classroom and school communities. Lessons include greetings, asking permission, table manners, waiting for one's turn and showing appreciation. These lessons also help develop a student's confidence and ability to have appropriate behavior in public places such as restaurants, museums and airplanes. Another goal is to assist the child in the ability to internalize discipline to make appropriate choices.
PERCEPTUAL MOTOR DEVELOPMENT
Perceptual Motor Development refers to one's ability to receive, interpret and respond successfully to sensory information. Children receive information primarily through the visual, auditory, tactile, vestibular and kinesthetic senses. All conscious and controlled movement depends on one's ability to interpret sensory information.
Perceptual Motor abilities to be promoted include body image, balance, spatial awareness, eye-hand and eye-foot coordination, laterality, directionality, proprioception and form discrimination. Attributes of movement such as rhythm, loco-motor coordination, agility, strength and flexibility are also developed within various aspects of our program.
Perceptual Motor Skills assist the child's learning:
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Naming Body Parts assists the child in learning to form concepts of self, left-right, up-down, front-back, etc.
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Crawling develops printing, writing and drawing skills.
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Balance Beam assists the child in learning to read across a printed page and forming letters.
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Stepping Stones develops the ability to recall letters, words and numerals; develops auditory and visual spelling and reading abilities.
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Eye Pursuit Movements assists the child in developing smooth, continuous eye movement and building reading flow.
CARE OF THE environment
Young children love to imitate activities they see parents perform at home. Lessons include Dusting, Sweeping, Washing a Table, Polishing Wood, Silver or a Mirror, Flower Arranging and Setting a Table for meal time.
CARE OF THE PERSON
These activities help increase the child's independence in hand washing, button sewing, dressing and grooming. Lessons include Washing Hands, Shoe Polishing and Dressing Frames such as Buttons, Snaps, Zipper, Bow Tying, Buckling and Lacing.
FOOD PREPARATION
Students learn about nutrition while building visual memory and sequencing skills when preparing food. Activities may include spreading hummus on bread chopping apples to make applesauce or having a Tea Party are lessons that build the child's independence, coordination and concentration.
science
Science experiments for children to perform require a measure of concentration and coordination and include activities related to specific curriculum. They are usually first presented to students using the inquiry process to enhance understanding. They may include: Properties of Land, Water, and Air, Magnetism, three States of Matter, Gravity, Buoyancy, Solar Energy, Light, and Propagation of Plants.
geography
The Montessori Geography curriculum is based on the physical and cultural geography. The Physical geography encompasses the formation of the universe and the creation of the earth. Children learn though maps and globes discovering continents, countries, animals and new cultures.
Math
The Early Childhood curriculum relates Math to the everyday activities. Our children love to learn about fractions, proportions, geometry and how they can relate the numbers and simple math exercises naturally. The Sensorial impression of fraction is introduced through the use of the Fraction Insets. This material provides students with a concrete understanding of the families of fractions before they are introduced to mathematical operations with fractions.
extra activities
Our school days are filled with Montessori lessons and extra activities that support our students in their social emotional development and life skills. Children enjoy cooking classes, science experiments, music lessons, art, foreign language and cultural diversity. They also have a lot of fun and freedom exploring our play yard, garden, natural trails, and soccer field
COOKING
MEDITATION
FINE ARTS
STORY TIME
NATURE WALK
GARDENING