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At Island Montessori House School, we offer you and your child an authentic Montessori program for preschool (30 months to kindergarten age) and kindergarten/grade one. We know that children like to both work and play. Our comprehensive program allows your child to do both. Through our program, your child will gain the knowledge and understanding of many different subjects which allow the whole child to grow and develop.

Program and activities in the classroom

This is a child-centered program where we observe the individual and group needs of each child, and provide for those needs - their play is their work, and this is respected. Free choice of activities within the classroom, and free play time outside constitute the basis of our program. Within the basic Montessori program, there are:

• individual and group activities
• an abundance of manipulative materials (self-instructing, self-correcting)
• activities to enhance creativity
• exercises and activities to foster growth in all areas of development - social,
• emotional, intellectual, physical (sensorial, large and fine motor control and co-ordination).

In the classroom, children have opportunities to do things they see their parents do at home. They can prepare food such as cutting carrots, squeezing oranges or slicing apples. They can do carpentry such as hammering and they learn to tie shoes, work a zipper and snap buttons. They can listen to music, sing, dance and learn to play an instrument. They can learn to count or make words. They can look at books about all the wonderful things in the world around them. They can run, climb, play games and have fun with their friends. Their options are endless!

The developmental needs of the children in the classroom

There are exercises in practical life skills (developing concentration, independence, fine motor control and co-ordination), sensorial development (refinement of the senses), math, language, geography, history and science (intellectual growth), art and music (creative and aesthetic development), the book corner (for enjoyment, growth in appreciation, relaxation, information), group activities (social skill development through experience), gym and outside activities (physical development).

Practical Life Exercises

For younger children, there is something special about tasks that adults think ordinary such as washing dishes, polishing shoes and peeling vegetables. These exercises are exciting to children because they allow them to imitate adults. In this area of the classroom, children learn to respect themselves and their environment. Children develop good working habits as they finish each task and put away all materials before beginning another activity.

Sensorial Exercises

The sensorial materials in the Montessori classroom help children to distinguish, categorize and relate to new information in a way they already know. Children don't learn just through listening - they also learn through touching, smelling, seeing, tasting and exploring. Our program provides projects that allow children to learn through all of their senses - while adding in fun and laughter!

Mathematics

It is proven that if children are exposed to mathematic materials in their early years, they can easily assimilate many facts and skills of arithmetic. These same skills are harder to achieve if introduced later in a child's development. Children in a Montessori classroom never sit down to memorize addition, subtraction and multiplication tables. They instead learn to perform these operations with concrete materials - such as blocks, number rods and beads.

Language Arts

Children learn the phonetic sounds of letters before they learn alphabetical names. Even simple rhymes, games and conversations with friends can help develop a child's language skills. Reading instruction begins on the day a child wants to know what a word says or when he shows interest in a Montessori activity using sandpaper letters. Children are encouraged to explore books for answers to their own questions.

Reading and mathematics

In addition to the basic Montessori materials, exercises and activities that were specifically designed to foster growth in these areas, there are many other opportunities each day to develop reading and math skills where children learn naturally and easily (e.g. 'reading' the snack menu, counting activities at grouptime, cooking projects - following a recipe, and so on).

Geography

Large wooden puzzle maps are among the most popular activities in the classroom. At first, the children use the maps simply as a puzzle. Gradually, they learn the names of the countries, the climate and products of different countries.

History

Our Montessori program uses time lines to introduce children to history. As an introduction to history, children begin by making a time line of their own lives.

Cultural Awareness

The children gain an awareness of the world around them by exploring other countries, their customs, food, music, climate, language and animals.

Cooking and Nutrition

The children study the four basic food groups and learn what their bodies need to be healthy. Different meals are prepared that revolve around their studies of different countries.

Arts and Crafts

Art in the preschool environment strives to maintain the joy a child finds in creating something of his or her own. Children have the freedom to explore their imaginations with a variety of materials used for expression.

Music and Creative Movement

The creative music, movement and dramatics programs are an ongoing flexible process that integrates into the program. Children sing songs, play instruments like bells and dress up, just to name a few.

Science and Nature

In science, the children's natural curiosity is stimulated through discovery projects and experiments, helping the children draw their own conclusions. Plants and animals are studied to foster a love and appreciation for living things.

Consolidation of knowledge and extension of experience

Through gradual sequencing of the exercises in each area of the classroom, children come to understand the idea that facts, knowledge and skills are not isolated, but build on previous knowledge and skills. Activities involve either practical life skills using materials that a child uses and sees in his daily life, or we relate the learning and knowledge to the child's own experiences, and extend this into the world around him (e.g. when learning colours, children look for objects of certain colours in the environment). Also, children have many opportunities to share their ideas and experiences.

Orienting children to the community and its services

The children learn about their community through library books, field trips, in-class visits, films, participation in group activities with the Doncaster Elementary children, and in discussions about their own experiences.