Montessori Classroom
Welcome to Aberdeen! Let me explain a little how the Montessori class will run. 1 ½ half hours will be spent on Montessori work. Each child will be working at a different station. The children have the freedom to choose which area they would like to work on. However, this isn’t just playtime, each student will be focusing on mastering a skill in their chosen area. These areas include academic and life skills. During the Montessori time, I will be having one on one lessons with the children in their chosen area to help them progress in their skills. The Montessori method lets children be independent and learn while they are at play, but also allows the teacher to assess their skills and adjust lesson plans according to their ability and not just their age. Below are the areas the children will be able to choose from.
Art
Montessori Art focuses on the process of allowing the child to truly experience art on his/her own terms. Children are born naturally inclined to art. So, then, our job is to nurture that natural tendency towards creativity. You won’t find crafts or step by step art projects in a Montessori environment. More often than not, an art project is integrated into another area of the classroom such as language (storytelling), history (visual representations of time), math (beadwork), and geography (tracing & coloring maps).
Chinese Lanuage
One of the things we will be learning as a group is Chinese. This area will help the child practice the things they learned from our group lessons. In addition, Chinese traditional work will be included in this area. For example, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese handwriting, storybooks, etc. It is an area meant to help children increase their understanding of Chinese culture and engage more with the Chinese language.
Practical Life
These activities comprise of caring of the person, caring for the environment, and lessons in grace and courtesy. These exercises include activities such as pouring, sorting, sewing, food preparation, serving, and many other activities using real life objects in a child sized environment. These activities encourage good work habits, increase concentration, independence, and develop coordination. The Practical life activities prepare the child for all other subject areas of the classroom and increase real-life experience.
Language
Language is explored phonetically in a Montessori classroom. Initial alphabet sounds are first introduced. After the children learn a few sounds, they are then introduced to blending exercises. Other exercises are used to refine pencil control and help to improve writing skills.
Mathematics
We use hands on materials to provide the child with a simple and clear understanding of the mathematical concepts being taught, For example, number rods, sandpaper numbers, hundred board, etc. Each exercise builds upon another gradually guiding the child’s mathematical mind from the concrete into the more abstract areas of numeration.
Sensorial
It is through the five senses that the sensorial materials prepare the child to sharpen their abilities in learning reading, writing, and mathematics. For example, the child who has perceived the subtle differences of sounds in the sound cylinders will be more likely to perceive subtle differences in the phonetic sounds of letters. Using the senses to explore the diverse materials is designed to develop all faculties of intelligence.
Large Circle time
Circle time is our group learning time. Children will get together and participate in a lesson created by the teacher. This helps children to develop social skills, concentration, critical thinking, etc.
Three circle times will be included in each class period.
1.Math/Handwriting circle time
Where I will introduce numbers and letters through games, songs, and movement
2.Chinese Circle time
Each month we will be focusing on a different theme. For example, colors, animals, foods,special holidays, etc. We will also learn things such as, ChineseHandwriting, Chinese Poems, and Chinese songs & games.
3.Science / Cultural Circle time
I will be Introducing different Science experiments to learn and explore and introducing different continents to learn about the world.
