About the Pre-Elementary Curriculum

The Montessori Method, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in the early part of the 20th century, laid the ground work for an educational system that has been adopted world wide.

Montessori education accommodates the level of ability of each child. After presenting the appropriate learning materials to the children at lessons, the teacher assesses the academic needs of each student by carefully observing their performance with the materials and other assignments. Therefore, each child moves along according to his/her ability in all areas of the curriculum, which allows for mastery of all subject matter presented.

Sensitive Periods

Maria Montessori recognized that children have sensitive periods, times during their development when they are the most sensitive and open for learning a particular subject matter. The different areas of the classroom are structured with these needs in mind. For example, in the preschool years it is very important that children develop proper coordination in their hands and wrist to prepare them for writing. That is one of the purposes of the practical life and sensorial areas of the curriculum.

The Child as the Center

In the Montessori classroom the child is the center of attention, not the teacher. The teacher assumes the role of a guide in the child's development, introducing lessons and facilitating the child's progress, helping the child to maximize his/her potential.

Freedom With Responsibility

The child is his/her own teacher and has freedom to choose much of his/her own work and goals within the structure of the curriculum. Students are responsible for a minimum amount of work and respect for others is expected and enforced.

Advancement

Because each child is allowed to advance at his/her own rate, you may witness children advancing at different rates in different areas of the curriculum. It is common for children to be more advanced in some areas compared to others. Within the Montessori classroom this is not a problem. Montessori education accommodates whatever level a child is at in every subject matter studied.

Classroom Materials

Multi-Sensory: Dr. Maria Montessori developed her method through careful observation of children. She noted that learning is enhanced through the use of attractive, multi-sensory materials (materials that utilize two or more senses while isolating a single attribute, such as color or texture).

Integrated & Fundamental: Maria Montessori carefully constructed the classroom materials to flow in a logical sequence to ensure a full and proper understanding of the subject matter (unlike traditional schools that often jump right into higher abstractions). Because of the nature of the curriculum (being reality based, beginning with the use of manipulative materials, then gradually moving to higher abstractions), the student is comfortable and confident with new work and higher concepts as they are introduced because the ground work has already been properly laid for his/her advancement. Another feature of the Montessori classroom is the integrated nature of the materials and curriculum. For example, a lesson in geography may also involve mathematics and history. Constructing her classroom materials based on those principles she noted that children learned the subject matter easier and more thoroughly.

Self-Correcting: Self-correcting materials allows a child to see for himself if he has obtained a correct answer, freeing the teacher to introduce more work to other children. Being able to correct one's own answers promotes independence because the child sees that he can do it himself. Independence leads to confidence, which is so essential for the development of self-esteem and goal directed action.

The following is a list of the main curriculum areas:

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