|
|
Pre-Primary Morning
/ Extended Day Program
| Kingwood Day School
offers a traditional Montessori curriculum for children aged 2 1/2 to 6.
Our teachers utilize their Montessori training as well as their
experience and training in other educational methods to meet the
individual needs of each child. The classroom is equipped with
Montessori materials plus teaching materials developed in recent
years. The children are enrolled in the Montessori Pre-Primary
Morning or Extended Day classes through their Kindergarten year.
Kindergarten aged children attend the Extended Day program to fully
prepare them for entrance into First Grade. |
|
The classroom is
composed of several learning areas: Practical Life, Sensorial, Math,
Language, Science, Geography, Art and Music. Within an area, the
materials are sequence from simple to complex and concrete to
abstract. Each step develops a certain skill and the materials
encourage repetitive use.
|
|
The exercises in the
Montessori environment are structured to emphasize the process rather
than the product. The simplest exercises are designed to give the young
child success as he strives to perfect himself. As one step is mastered,
another is introduced and the child learns how to challenge himself and
take pride in his achievements.
The children are free
to move about the classroom during work time, to choose work, and to
observe their classmates without interrupting them. |
Full Day Program /
Day Care
Our full day program,
consisting of before and after school day care, is available year-round
to meet the needs of working parents. We provide the children with
a consistent staff in the nurturing atmosphere of their own classroom.
In the relaxed atmosphere of the late afternoon, children enjoy art and
music activities, stories, dramatic play, organized outdoor games, and
extensions of the classroom lessons.
Montessori Classroom
Areas
Practical Life
In the Practical Life area, the child learns skills which will
help him care for himself and his surroundings. These exercises
help the child to increase fine and gross motor skills, to follow a
sequence of steps, to track from left to right, to observe detail, and
to persevere and concentrate on a task. These skills form a foundation
for reading and writing.
Sensorial
The exercises in the Sensorial area isolate and refine the
individual senses (sight, touch, hearing, smell, and taste). Both fine
and gross motor skills are enhanced in this area. |
|
Math
The child progresses through a series of manipulative materials
to master the concepts of one-to-one correspondence, numeral
recognition, counting, place value, addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division, and fractions. Geometry is taught using the
Sensorial equipment. The Math materials guide the child to
abstract thinking.
 Language
As a child works in each area of the classroom, correct
terminology is used to expand his vocabulary. A young child is
introduced to letters and their sounds. The child progresses through the
language curriculum at his own pace, from sorting objects according to
their initial sounds through spelling phonetic works, sentence reading,
book reading, creative writing and understanding the parts of speech.
Handwriting skills are developed through tracing and writing exercises.
Science and
Geography
Science experiments and exercises help the children understand
their world. The children care for animals and plants kept in the
classroom. Through the study of geography, culture and language,
the children become familiar with the world's peoples and their
similarities, interdependence, history, and needs. Maps are used
extensively in the geography curriculum.
Art and Music
Many of the art and music exercises introduce a new skill or
medium: clay, chalk, watercolors, rhythm instruments, tone bars. After
the child masters a new craft or skill, creativity develops. Group
projects in art and music are an integral part of the program.
Field Trips
Field trips are utilized as a means of extending learning beyond
the school boundaries. They build upon classroom lessons as well as
enhance social skills.
|
