Montessori Curriculum
The two contributing factors for successful Montessori education are the curriculum (as detailed below) and the environment. This includes how the room is organised, the furniture, staff, children and the equipment used.
Everyday/Practical Life: Linking home and nursery, children use real equipment in preparing food, cooking, clearing up, pouring, threading, cutting, dressing, social skills, good manners and other household tasks. These activities encourage co-ordination, concentration and independence, thus helping the child to develop.
Touch and feel: is an important part of the Montessori method. Children learn through the use of specialist equipment. Activities include grading, matching, sorting, weight, smell, taste, sight, sound and colour. Therefore encouraging motor skills and vocabulary. Also helping to develop concentration, self control and promoting a desire to learn.
Language: Songs, poems, rhymes, word games, play and dance are all used frequently to enrich language development. Much of the work that the children undertake allows a hands on approach that will lead to a development and understanding of language and reading skills. Children can be introduced to phonics when they start to show an interest. This will assist them when they begin to read.
Number skills: The children learn to match, pair and place in sequence objects, colours, shapes and numbers. These are the basis for all number skills, including measuring length and weight and often begin when working with sensorial activities. As children grasp basic mathematical concepts (bigger/smaller, heavier/lighter etc) then they can progress to Number Rods, the Spindle Box and Golden Beads to reinforce this.
Cultural and creative: Children learn about the world through themes, supported by touch and feel equipment, photographs and artifacts from home and by outings. The children also have the opportunity to take part in craft activities, dancing, singing, playing musical instruments and dressing up. This can often relate to science and geography.
Social Skills: The children are encouraged to work in groups for some activities. This encourages sharing, teamwork, respect and learning to assist one another. The children are encouraged to care for both the classroom and the other children within it. They have the chance to work in a quiet atmosphere to allow maximum concentration.