The Montessori Curriculum
The Montessori Curriculum includes materials in Religious Potential to introduce the child to Jesus, their Good Shepherd who loves them, knows them by name, and calls them to follow Him; Art to encourage creativity and free-expression; Practical Life to enhance motor skills through daily functions in concrete form; Language which teaches letter sounds and recognition, vocabulary, writing, and reading; and Cultural (Science and Geography) includes learning about plants, animals, human anatomy, the Earth, outer space, and other cultures. The Montessori Method supports and encourages multi-age classes. Older children work with younger children; giving them leadership skills and encouraging the younger children to choose and achieve more challenging activities. Multi-age classes also promote respect between older and younger children.
Religious Potential- The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program teaches with beautiful, yet simple, Christ-focused materials to aid in spiritual formation of children, always following the Liturgical Church Calendar.
Practical Life- Care for the person, the environment, and common courtesy are taught in this area of a Montessori Environment. All Practical Life works help the child practice eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills, and daily functions. In perfecting these skills, the child develops self-confidence/discipline, concentration, and a sense of order.
Sensorial- Focuses on the exploration and understanding of a child's environment. Sensorial Materials are designed to isolate each sense, encouraging independence and organization. The senses the children will refine are visual, tactile (touch), auditory (hearing), gustatory (taste), and olfactory (smell). Sensorial works also prepare a child for math, geometry, language, writing and logical thinking.
Mathematics- Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry are all combined to enlighten each other. Together they allow a child to physically manipulate the material in order to form a concrete understanding of Math and make it easier to understand more abstract concepts.
Language- Every Language lesson is presented in order from left to right, giving the child an early concept of reading and writing. Expanded vocabulary will increase their understanding of the World around them. They will learn letter sounds using the Sandpaper Letters and learn to identify the beginning, middle, and ending letter sounds in simple CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant) words used in object boxes and a variety of language works. The child will learn to spell and read simple CVC words, then grammar will be introduced. Language starts simple and concrete, and then advances to more absstract thinking.
Cultural- Biology includes works that allows a child to experiment and observe plants, animals, and humans; discover their needs, how they change and are classified. Geography is concrete, yet very abstract, and gives the children a greater understanding of Outer Space, the World with our seven Continents, and Cultures not seen every day. It lends a visual concept of the Earth, how the water and land are divided. Land and Water Form Trays allow the children to learn about the World in a more concrete and fun way. Puzzles and control maps allow the children to explore, discover and name the Continents, Bodies of Water, Countries and States.