Classroom Routines

Students are formally welcomed to class each day, and shake a teacher’s hand. We end our session with the same ritual, a handshake and thank you for the real work your child has done. Lessons in “grace and courtesy” are the cornerstone of the Montessori method.

The Montessori classroom is divided into five distinct areas: Practical Life, Sensorial & Mathematics, Science, Geography & Culture and Language Arts. No subject is taught in isolation as the curriculum is interwoven. Group activities include circle time, story telling, music, dance, art classes, gym, nature walks and French lessons.

Before our classes begin, we have a 15-minute period of play. This provides an opportunity for students to arrive, greet their teachers, and visit with friends.

Our day includes 20 to 30 minutes of physical exercise in the Stratford School gymnasium. Students run, skip, play games with balls, our 24 man parachute, hopscotch, tumble mats, hula hoops and a full range of Preschool-sized gym equipment. Traditional games such as Bean Bag Toss, Red Light Green Light, Farmer in the Dell, Duck-Duck-Goose, Red Rover, London Bridge and other favorites are enjoyed by all! Teachers supervise and participate in all gym activities. After gym, students freshen-up and are encouraged to have a drink of water.

We host a traditional preschool circle and sing Our Welcome Song, discuss the calendar and seasons, festive events and holidays. Each day the class is presented with new material relating to our monthly themes and area of cultural study. To help build confidence, students are encouraged to join in our circle group discussions.

The students work with our Montessori materials for ninety minutes. Individual and small group presentations occur spontaneously. This year, our ballet, music and yoga classes will be held on Fridays, French on Thursdays and Art on Wednesdays. The last Thursday of the month is also our culinary arts class.

 

The Arts at Montessori & Me

We believe the arts to be an important part of our curriculum.

ART: At Montessori & Me, students have access to a wide variety of art materials and are free to paint, sculpt, colour or sketch at any time. Through art, children learn to value their own uniqueness and to appreciate the individuality of others. Art provides an opportunity to augment creative expression, self-discovery, self-esteem and self-concept. Art projects create a sense of achievement in the young child.

FRENCH: Our students participate in 60 minutes of French instruction per week. Some of the themes and units we explore in English, are also covered in French. Through oral instruction, song and rhyme, children learn their numbers, articles, and develop an ability in, and understanding of, basic conversational French.

MUSIC: In addition to our weekly music class we incorporate music into many class activities such as gym, story telling, French and circle time. Children memorize songs in both English and French for our two concerts.

GYM & YOGA: Our students have access to the full-sized Stratford School gymnasium every day for 20-30 minutes. Gym class is a great opportunity to learn about the movement of our bodies, develop gross motor skills and have a wild good time. Each class begins with self-organized free play, after which we join circle for yoga based warm ups and games; this is our time to focus on our balance, strength, flexibility and body awareness. Gym class is non-competitive and organized sports and games are introduced later in the year as optional activities.

DANCE: The children explore creative movement in ballet and hip-hop dance styles in our weekly ballet class as well as prepare for our two concerts.

CULINARY ARTS: A hands-on cooking class. Each child prepares their own dish and has a chance to eat it at snack and/or take some home to share with their family.