St. Nicholas Montessori School - Curiculum

PRACTICAL LIFE
The exercises for practical life prepares the child indirectly for all other areas of the curriculum with order, concentration, coordination and independence. Practical life exercises include pouring, sorting, food preparation, care of self, and care of the environment. These exercises lay the foundation for all the other subject areas in the Montessori classroom.
"Any child who is self-sufficient, who can tie his shoes, dress or undress himself, reflects in his joy and sense of achievement the image of human dignity, which is derived from a sense of independence." Maria Montessori

SENSORIAL
Through exploration of the various materials of varying dimension, colour, shape, texture, smell, and taste, all the faculties of intelligence are developed. The sensorial area also includes geometry as the subject is introduced to the child through their senses.
“The aim (of sensorial exercises) is an inner one, namely, that the child train himself to observe; that he be led to make comparisons between objects, to form judgments, to reason and to decide; and it is in the indefinite repetition of this exercise of attention and of intelligence that a real development ensues.” Dr. Montessori

LANGUAGE
 The language curriculum includes oral language activities, pre-reading work, writing and reading comprehension.

Initial sounds are introduced through Sandpaper Letters. After the children learn the sounds, they are then introduced to blending exercises through the moveable alphabet. The Metal Insets are used to refine pencil control and help to improve writing skills.

The objective of oral language activities includes the development of listening skills, comprehension and vocabulary.
“The mind and the hand are prepared separately for written language and follow different roads to the same goal” (Montessori)

MATHEMATICS
Montessori mathematics focuses on the fundamental skills to calculate. The children learn counting and recognition of numerals, which then leads into addition, subtraction, multiplication and division concepts.

CULTURAL STUDIES
Cultural subjects include History, Geography, Science, Music and art.  The aim of studying the cultural subjects is to allow the child experience his/her place in the universe.  They begin by exploring similarities between their culture and other cultures and then have a respect and appreciation for differences. They learn how all things are fundamentally related and discover ways to feel they are significant beings in the world.
‘There is a great sense of community within the Montessori classroom, where children of differing ages work together in an atmosphere of cooperation rather than competitiveness. There is respect for the environment and for the individuals within it, which comes through experience of freedom within the community.’

Dr Maria Montessori (cited in Elizabeth Hainstock, 1986, p. 81 - The Essential Montessori)