CURRICULUM IN THE PRIMARY CLASSROOM

 

The Montessori Primary classroom consists of different areas, each containing shelves of works. The shelves are organized with the simplest works at the beginning and the most advanced works at the end. This organization helps set each child up for success.

 

Montessori materials are self-correcting, and this encourages children to feel a sense of accomplishment from the very beginning of their educational journey.

 

Each area of the classroom has specific concepts/goals for children to learn and achieve.

 

• The Sensorial area is unique to the Montessori environment. This area “refines the senses” by allowing children to explore works using their sense of touch, smell, taste, sight and hearing. This area also supports the development of key concepts such as shape recognition, discrimination of size (big/little), and color recognition.

 

• Practical Life contains “everyday living” works such as sweeping, pouring, washing dishes, preparing a snack, sawing at the workbench and sewing. These works support the young child’s development of concentration, order, coordination, and independence while also refining their fine motor skills.

 

• Art exposes children to various famous artists in addition to learning skills such as cutting, drawing, painting, sculpting, and collage. There are many opportunities in the Montessori classroom for creative artistic expression.

 

• The Geography area supports their understanding of the world around them. Young children are fascinated about the world and love learning about different cultures, holidays, and traditions.  In the Montessori curriculum, they are introduced to maps, flags, landforms, animals, language, etc. from all 7 continents.

 

• In the Science area, children learn about the different classifications of animals (birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, dinosaurs, etc.) as well as perform science experiments and learn about botany (flowers, trees, leaves, plants, etc.). Through these hands-on, interactive experiences, children are allowed the opportunity to explore the world around them at their own pace.

 

• The Language area supports the development of pre-reading skills such as patterning, sequencing, and classifying as well as sound recognition and awareness. Children also learn the phonetic sound each letter makes and to compose words with the Moveable Alphabet.

 

• Handwriting skills are supported throughout the entire classroom via hand strengthening works, but also in the Language area through works such as a  specially designed handwriting program, writing letters in the cornmeal tray, and journal writing.

 

• Reading is supported phonetically and through memorization of non-phonetic words.  There are a variety of reading materials available for all levels and interests. Books can be found all over the classroom but there are other reading opportunities found in the Reading Corner.

 

• The Math area of the Montessori classroom consists of works that support counting quantity (0-9999), number recognition (0-9999), graphing, fractions, money, and time, in addition to learning all four mathematical operations (addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division) in concrete, hands-on ways. Like all areas of the Montessori classroom, the Math area has works that can be used in small groups, individually, with a friend, or with a teacher.

 

• The Montessori Primary classroom also has areas devoted to Music, ASL, and Peace Education.