Curriculum
Educational Philosophy
The aim at All About Kids Montessori School is to educate the whole child. The excellence Montessori Method of education is coupled with a focus on freedom of expression, imagination and creativity. In an environment carefully prepared to stimulate development, children are respectfully given the freedom to be themselves to grow socially, emotionally and intellectually.
The child’s natural sense of wonder, exploration, discovery, independence and concentration are nurtured in the classroom. The teacher acts to help the child discover the prepared environment by observing a child’s interest, introducing appropriate self-teaching materials, and allowing space and time for discovery. Children receive
Instruction individually or in small groups and may choose to work along or with other children. There is freedom to move around the room, to socialize and to work.
The child enters a prepared environment. The Montessori aspects of the classroom include:
Practical Life Exercises for promoting large and small muscle coordination, concentration and persistence to complete a work cycle. Activities include sweeping the floor, scrubbing bright tropical shells, pouring colored water, from pitcher and tightening screws into a wooden blocks, etc
Sensorial Exercises for refining sense perceptions and relating basic space and dimensional relationships. This colorful series of materials includes graduated color tablets for refining color perception and movable triangles used to build basic geometrical shapes.
Language Exercises for vocabulary development, phonetics leading to reading, prewriting and writing skills, and basic grammar. Children begin with a visual/tactile/auditory experience of tracing sandpaper letters and later may learn grammar skills with the aid of miniature farm.
Mathematics Exercises for concrete representations of quantity and operational functions. By picking up and moving around color coded beads, number symbol card, spindles, discs, etc……., and by performing mathematical exercises, the children develop a solid base for later understanding of abstract mathematics.
Science Exercises for introducing basic scientific procedures in problem solving, and hands-on contacts with the processes and materials in nature.
Geography Exercises for presenting land forms and countries using clay, Water, and puzzles maps, etc., Cultural awareness is celebrated with food, dance and song. A global view of people and their sameness is stressed.
Curriculum Goals for Children Attending AAK
Two and five year olds
Personal & Social Domains
Self Concept
Self Control
- Follows simple classroom rules and routines with guidance.
- Begins to use classroom materials carefully
- Manages transitions.
Approaches to learning
- Shows eagerness and curiosity as a learner
- Attends briefly, and seeks help when encountering a problem
- Approaches play with purpose and inventiveness
Interaction with others
- Interacts with one or more children
- Interacts with familiar adults
- Participates in the group life of the class
- Shows empathy and caring of others
Social problem-solving
- Seeks adults help when needed to resolve conflicts
Language and literacy
- Listening
- Gains meaning by listening
- Follow two-step directions
- Shows beginning phonological awareness
Speaking
- Speaks clearly enough to be understood by most listeners
- (3 yr olds: and without contextual clues)
- Uses expanded vocabulary and language for a variety of purposes
Reading
- Shows appreciation for books (2 yrs old and up reading)
- Shows interest in letters and words (2 yrs old and up: shows beginning understanding of concepts about print)
- Comprehends and responds to stories read aloud
- (3 yrs old: begins to develop knowledge about letters)
Writing
Represents ideas and stories through pictures, dictation, and play uses scribbles and unconventional shapes to write (3 yrs olds: uses letter – like shapes, symbols, and letters to convey meaning) (3 yrs olds: understanding purposes for writing)
Mathematical Thinking
Mathematical processes
- Shows interest in solving mathematical problems
- (3 yrs olds: begins to use simple strategies to solve mathematical problems)
Number and operations
- Shows curiosity and interest in counting and numbers
- (2 yrs olds: shows beginning understanding of number and quantity)
Patterns, relationships, and functions
- Sorts objects into subgroups that vary by one attribute
- (3 yrs olds: recognize simple patterns and duplicates them)
Geometry and spatial relations
- Identifies several shapes
- Shows understanding of several positional words
Measurements
- Shows understanding of some comparative words
- Participates in measuring activities ( 3 yr olds: orders, compares, and describes objects according to a single attribute )
Scientific Thinking
Inquiry
- Uses senses to observe and explore classroom materials and natural phenomena
- Begins to use simple tools and equipment for investigation
- Makes comparisons among objects
Social Studies
People, past and present
- Begins to recognize own physical characteristic and those of others
- (3yr olds: begins to recognize own physical characteristics and those of others)
Human Interdependence
- Begins to understand family structures and roles ( 3yr olds: begins to understand family needs, roles, and relationships)
- Describe some jobs that people do ( 3 yr olds: and what is required to perform them)
- ( 3 yr olds: begins to be aware of technology and how it affects life )
Citizenship and government
- Shows awareness of groups rules
- ( 3yr olds: show awareness of what it means to be a leader)
People and where they live
- Shows beginning awareness of their environment
- ( 3 yr olds: describes the location of things in the environment)
The Arts
Expression and representation
- Participates in group music experiences
- Participates in creative movement, dance, and drama
- Uses a variety of art materials for tactile experience and exploration
Understanding and appreciation
- Responds to artistic creations or events
Physical Development and Domain
Gross motor development
- Moves with some balance and control
- Coordinates movements to perform simple tasks
Fine motor development
- Uses strength and control to perform simple tasks
- Uses eye-hand coordination to perform simple tasks
- Explores the use of various drawing and art tools
- ( 3 yr olds: shows beginning control of writing, drawing, and art tools)
Personal health and safety
- Begins to perform self-care tasks independently
- Follows basic health and safety rules with reminders