Reach Montessori Preschool – Practical Life Learning
The children develop control of movement and are introduced to lessons in grace and courtesy. The exercises such as pouring, scooping and scrubbing not only help to build independence for the child. They foster fine muscle development in preparation for writing. Grace and courtesy are demonstrated and reinforced to offer each child a clear understanding of the expectations of the classroom as well as society. Practical Life also encourages care for themselves and their environment. These lessons help to heighten the child’s awareness and allow them to understand their role in the community of the classroom.
Reach Montessori Preschool – Sensorial Learning
The sensorial learning area of the classroom helps the children to sort out and define all of the sensorial impressions they absorb through their daily living. With the use of special materials such as long rods, cylinder blocks, constructive triangles and the binomial cube, the children learn to categorize and identify individual qualities such as dimension, color, texture, temperature as well as two and three-dimensional shapes.
Reach Montessori Preschool – Language Learning
Lessons in the language area are given both individually as well as in group presentations. Oral language is explored through stories, songs and verbal games such as eye spy and the question game. Individual lessons center on the development of writing skills through the use of metal insets and the use of phonics in developing reading skills.
Reach Montessori Preschool – Mathematics Learning
Through a series of activities, the children are introduced to the concepts of both quantity and symbol starting with numbers one through ten. From this point linear counting and the decimal numbers reintroduced. Once these numbers are concretely understood, concepts such as addition and subtraction are explored, with both large and small numbers. Other areas such as fractions, measuring and money are resented in group lessons and reinforced with individual activities.
Reach Montessori Preschool – Art Learning
Several famous artists have been introduced over the past several months each with a unique quality or style to his or her work. With each artist, these qualities have been explored by the children through various projects. In the monthly program, the children can participate in a daily crafts project that involves such skills as coloring, cutting, gluing, painting, collage and clay.
Reach Montessori Preschool – Science Learning
Through individual activities, the children have had the opportunity to explore many different science concepts. Some of these concepts are the differences between a solid, a liquid and a gas, the properties that make an item magnetic or non-magnetic and what makes an item sink or float. They have also been introduced to simple chemical reactions such as baking soda and vinegar, the effects of a mild acid (ketchup) and a copper penny and sample color mixing.
Reach Montessori Preschool – Music Learning
We help children understand the wide world of music. Through daily music, they participate in wide varieties of styles from country to traditional and classic. The children are learning the simple music scale through song as well as some simple music terms. Circle time allow for the singing of the children’s favorite songs and gives them an opportunity for expression. Monthly introduction of the composers has added interest to the music curriculum. During quit work and nap times, the music is played to reinforce an awareness of different styles of music.
Composers such as
- Haydn
- Mozart
- Beethoven
- Liszt
- Brahms
Reach Montessori Preschool – History and geography
History in the preschool classroom is shared through the child’s personal experiences. The children explore their personal history and keep a record of the history of the classroom. Through work with the calendar and the concepts of today, tomorrow and yesterday they develop the understanding of the passage of time. Holidays and important dates in history are also introduced. Geography has been a monthly topic of interest. We have introduced the concepts of land air and water and how these are the components that make up the earth. Each of the continents: food, clothing, shelter. Many other things such as animals, climate, and landscape have also been part of the discussions.
Reach Montessori Preschool – Zoology and Botany
We have our students study the following animals: horse, fish, insects, and reptiles. For each of these animal families we study the habitats, eating patterns, and names for the various body parts. Name for the various parts of a plant, leaf and root have been discussed.