Suncoast Montessori

MONTESSORI CURRICULUM

Suncoast Montesssori implements the Montessori educational approach based upon the theoretical framework derived from Dr. Maria Montessori’s scientific observation of children. Dr. Montessori discovered an instructional approach which allows each child to develop and learn at his or her individual pace, through activities with developmentally appropriate, self-correcting materials.

Children use their imagination to construct knowledge by working in six different area:

Peace
Practical Life
Sensorial
Math
Language
Cultural Studies (Geography, Science, History, Art and Music)

We believe that every child deserves a world class educational experience that is personalized.

Montessori is one of the highest quality educations available. It is used internationally and has been used successfully for over 100 years. We feel it is important to support children by guiding them through hands-on, scientifically based activities that progressively build on prior knowledge. We work closely with your child to help him or her reach his or her fullest potential.

This is not a one size fits all program which is the reason children make social, emotional, and academic strides.

Why does Suncoast Montessori use the Montessori approach?

Why Choose Montessori Education

PEACE

The Peace Curriculum is an integral part of the Montessori environment. Indigo Montessori incorporates the Peace Table, a place for children to engage in calming activities. It is also where conflict resolution takes place. Children learn through daily experiences to listen to one another. Through various lessons and activities, children begin to kinesthetically experience the abstract concept of Peace and being a peacemaker. Peace lessons encourage the students to be respectful and responsible to themselves, others, and the environment.

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PRACTICAL LIFE

The Practical Life area fosters independence, increases concentration skills, refines motor skills, empowers a sense of responsibility, enhances socialization, creates a sense of order, and builds self-esteem. Although children love imaginary play and imitating household chores, doing the work for themselves with real child-sized items is more meaningful. Practical Life activities help the child learn tasks needed in life and within the learning environment. For example, while children enjoy using the sweeping activity as a lesson, they now have the skill to do the purposeful work of sweeping the learning environment to keep it clean and take pride in becoming a productive community member. Movement is vital to a child’s development. This area of the room allows the child to master movement with purpose. Children learn to care for themselves, for others, for the environment, and receive grace and courtesy lessons while doing so.

Examples include:

Greeting a Friend
Sewing
Washing Dishes
Watering Plants
Preparing and Serving a Snack

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SENSORIAL

Dr. Montessori believed that what the child learns through their senses builds intellect and is used later for higher order thinking. Sensorial materials develop and refine the senses, laying a physical and mental framework for later learning and problem solving. The exercises are both self-correcting and sequential, helping the child focus on touch, smell, taste, visual discrimination and hearing.

“There is nothing in the intellect that was not first in the senses.” - Aristotle

Examples Include:

The Pink Tower
Geometry Lessons
Bells
Knobless Cylinders
Smelling and Tasting Lessons

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MATH

The Montessori math curriculum is intricately intertwined with the Sensorial and the Practical Life curriculum. Practical Life and Sensorial activities allow the child to explore objects and their relationships in a mathematical way. The Montessori curriculum allows the child to learn math from the very concrete to the abstract. Because children have experiences with hands-on materials, young children are able to work with the following mathematical concepts when they are developmentally ready:

One-to-One Correspondence of Numbers
Decimal system, Addition, Multiplication, Subtraction, Division
Math Facts, Squaring, Cubing
Working with Fractions
Word Problems

LANGUAGE

Indigo Circle is a language-rich environment. The sensitive period for learning language occurs from birth until about age six. It is during this time that children absorb language with ease. This is also the time when children more easily learn a foreign language. Children above age six continue to master phonics, reading and writing skills as their imaginative minds enjoy learning the history of language, etymology, reading comprehension, literature, and story writing. Language activities are in all areas of the learning environment. Rhythm activities, rhyming, poetry, songs, literature, and storytelling are all components of learning to read.

The Language area includes multi-sensory activities for children to use as they learn the sounds and sound combinations needed for reading and writing. Indigo Circle combines phonics and whole language activities to meet each child’s needs. We also incorporate the Orton-Gillingham based methodology, helping students with reading, writing and spelling. Students will be introduced to basic Spanish vocabulary and American Sign Language.

Examples of Language Lessons:

Metal Inset Work
Sandpaper Letters
Phonemic Awareness and Phonics Activities
Vocabulary Lessons
Grammar Lessons

CULTURAL STUDIES

The Cultural curriculum includes Geography, Science, History, Art, and Music. Indigo Circle's students learn about the world by experiencing food, art, and music from many different places. They also learn about plants, animals, and people from different continents. An understanding of physical geography helps children understand where they live and where they come from. Learning about different cultures provides the child with the opportunity to appreciate the diversity of how people live around our planet.

Montessori science lessons allow children the understanding of how they affect life cycles and what they can do to take care of our planet. Art appreciation and expression are an integral part of being human and children are given the opportunity to express themselves daily. They will experience music from around the world and gain an understanding of music through Orff music lessons.

Examples of the Cultural Curriculum:

Political and Biome Maps
Gardening/Eating Healthy Food from Around the World
Learning about the Five Types of Vertebrates
Composing a Group Song by Using Rhythm Instruments
Using a Variety of Art Media