Curriculum

The children are encouraged to help organize the day’s lesson, set up the classroom, participate in lessons and complete self-selected work.  Time is given each day to listening to the teacher read a story as well as taking turns to read. At lunch time, children are encouraged to enjoy their food with grace and courtesy. Each child is also responsible for cleaning up their area after lunch. A well-rounded healthy student does not only require academic exercise but physical exercise – so our children enjoy every day outdoor playtime which enables them to have some fun release of energy which will help him or her focus during work time.

The language program begins with readiness activities. It is imperative that each child be allowed to progress to a state of physical and mental readiness before formal language exercises are introduced. The child will experience matching cards, stories, poetry, listening games, and other preparatory activities. Children will learn Mandarin Chinese in a prepared Montessori environment, through activity-based lessons under the instruction of our own highly experienced teachers. No prior Chinese language skills are necessary to participate, but all children must be at least 2 years old at the start of our program. Children will be grouped by language level as well as age to ensure that every child gets the most out of his or her Montessori and Mandarin Chinese experience.

Mathematics is introduced when the child demonstrates interest and readiness. We match each child’s ability with the appropriate materials so that his learning experiences are both positive and rewarding while providing optimal learning at each stage of development. Introduction to mathematics begins with a clear, sensorial impression derived on the child’s part from manipulation of objects, movement, and activity. As each mathematical concept is internalized, the child weans himself gradually from concrete objects and then progresses to the abstract level that is required for a more advanced math curriculum. Kindergarten students work with the math operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division using Montessori Golden Bead material.

During the first two years, students are introduced to exercises about practical life, such as spooning beans, pouring water, and polishing silver. These exercises satisfy the child’s need to imitate adult behavior and increase their levels of independence. These exercises also lengthen attention span and aid in the development of fine and gross motor coordination. As time goes by, practical life exercises evolve from the care of self into the care of others and the environment, which then can lead to activities such as science experimentation and discoveries.

Sensorial exercises involve innovative educational materials that develop and refine the child’s sensory organs. The child learns to grade and sequence objects according to various attributes. These activities give the student a clearer, deeper understanding of sequences, groups, and sets, while preparing the child for the more advanced math and geometry activities of the kindergarten year. The student also meets a rich vocabulary in the process and learns to discriminate perceptually by using the senses.

These activities are designed to help the child become aware of and appreciate the diversity of the world. By examining the human, plant, and animal worlds, the child gains exposure to the life that surrounds him or her. The child is taught to respect and take care of the environment. Even the younger child experiments with air, water, and electricity, among other elements. The child is able to develop his intellect by thinking about the relationship between the causes and effects of each experiment. Rather than just inundating the child with a lot of facts and information, experiments allow the children to grasp a clearer understanding of their physical environment through hands-on activities. The child then develops new ways of thinking and sharpens his or her memory.