FULL DAY – 2.5 to 5 years old

 

The full day program at Ladybird Montessori Learning Academy is designed to give students a very strong foundation for future academic, social and emotional growth. It is a philosophy grounded in deep respect for the individual. We understand and respect the individual child and develop a personalized curriculum for each child based on current levels, interests and goals.

 

At Ladybird Montessori, the primary classroom is viewed as a three-year curriculum. During these three years, a child will progress through a series of lessons in a broad range of topics. A Montessori student is entrusted with the responsibility of choosing work that calls to him while being gently guided by a trained Montessori teacher. He or she is given lessons individually, in small and large groups. The lessons always begin with a concrete representation of abstract topics. The hands-on approach allows children to internalize very complex concepts. Through uninterrupted work time, children develop confidence, independence and a strong sense of order.

 

 

Practical Life

 

The Practical Life area has materials for children to use and exercises for them to practice in which imitate real life. Practical life skills include the following practices: work habits, grace and courtesy, care for the environment and self- care.

 

Work Habits – working habits help to promote the independence, respect for self, others, and the environment as well as increase the child’s concentration and ability to make wise choices.

 

Grace and Courtesy – this includes setting ground rules, table manners, use of courtesy words, and peaceful conflict resolution.

 

Care of Environment – responsibility for maintaining order of classroom through exercises such as sweeping, dusting, dishwashing, laundry, etc. Practices of food preparation and caring for plant or animal are also exercised in the practical life area.

 

Self Care – self-care includes: learning to do up zippers, snaps or bows, or personal hygiene.

 

All of these practical life exercises have a purposeful meaning behind them. It enhances the ability to concentrate, acquisition of independence, social adaptation, and strengthening the hands for later work such as writing.

 

 

Sensorial

 

Activities in the sensorial area are designed to bring greater refinement of the senses. The activities are separated into two categories: visual discrimination and refinement of the senses.

 

Visual Discrimination – matching, ordering by size/colour/form, patterning and classification

 

Refinement of the Senses – auditory, tactile, thermic, baric, olfactory, chromatic

 

The activities may include building a tower with cubes of decreasing sizes, matching colours, differentiating textures, sounds, and smells, sorting similar objects while blindfolded and grading shapes from smallest to largest. Many of the sensorial materials are designed for 2 or more children to play games with. It is a very playful and exploratory area of the curriculum.

 

 

Art

 

Our classroom makes sure children are surrounded by many open-ended creative art materials to use on a daily basis: coloring, cutting, gluing collages, water colours. We also do many seasonal craft projects such making snowflakes to décor the classroom. We also have sewing materials such as sewing a button or cross-stitching. Our art curriculum also helps children explore and study famous artists and their work through various mediums.

 

 

Music

 

Singing and listening to music are every day activities in a Montessori program. Activities include studying and listening to famous composers, singing and using various musical instruments. Many children become familiar with the note names and placement on the staff and some may even learn to read a simple line of music and are able to play the corresponding notes on the bells. It is a very joyful part of the program.

 

 

Language

 

The language area prepares children for reading and writing as well as helps them to develop self-expression and new vocabulary. Our language curriculum is based on four categories: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

 

Listening – Listening skills are improved through activities such as listening to and following multi-step instructions, listening to classic children’s literature, and developing comprehension and vocabulary by using both fiction and non-fiction materials.

 

Speaking – Communication and speaking in the language area is important for building social relationships, participation, and improved articulation. Activities may include initiating and holding a conversation with peers or teachers as well as speaking at a group of other children. Having the ability to speak up allows for the child to build confidence and leadership.

 

Reading – Reading activities include identifying parts of a story, phonetic exercises, looking at simple sight words, reading aloud, and studying children’s literature. The ability the read enhances the child to expand their vocabulary at an early age and build self-esteem when being able to read aloud to teachers and peers.

 

Writing – Creative writing and keeping a daily journal allows for children to express themselves and practice their writing skills. Keeping a journal and practicing allows for the child to witness their improvement throughout their preschool years before entering Kindergarten in which will increase their self-esteem and confidence. Writing practices also help to improve proper formation of letters and numbers.

 

 

Math

 

The math program is one of the most interesting aspects of any Montessori program. It is a very concrete program that makes use of beads, squares, cubes, colours, and symbols to teach children the numbers up to 1000 as well as basic mathematical operations in a very simple and clear progression. Children are also introduced to money currency in order to deal with real life situations and environment before leaving the program and going to the next level. It is amazing how much math 5 years old children can learn with the right teaching materials and they learn math with such passion and interest – it is very different from how many people feel about learning math.

 

 

Culture

 

Located at the center of a city with different world customs and culture, our program curriculum helps children diversify their knowledge of history and geography around the world. Activities include learning about the continents of the world, the countries, their flags and customs, art, language, clothing, as well as introducing the calendar and learning about the prehistoric life.

 

 

Science

 

The science curriculum at the Montessori allows for children to explore and experiment with their senses. Through these natural experiences and activities, they learn about how their environment works and how to interact with them. They also learn about the plant and animal kingdoms, non-living things, as well as Earth Science.