Infants

At this age the most important thing is that children receive the care they need to build trust with their caretakers. Children this young are absorbing everything in their environment.

• To foster speech and cognitive development, teachers speak clearly and describe the actions they do. Children are making connections between our words and the actions taking place, even when we do not see it right away.
• We provide simple lessons that engage children and promote fine and gross motor development.
• We carefully plan the environment around the individual needs of each child.

Toddlers

We prepare our classroom for children to fulfil their need to explore the environment, based on careful study and understanding of child development. We support children in:

• Strengthening their fine and large motor skills
• Taking their first steps towards becoming independent
• Developing their speech and communication skills
• A nurturing, caring environment that fosters cooperative play

Primary

• Older children learn to be compassionate and understanding towards younger friends who do not yet have the skills they have attained.
• The younger friends learn constantly as they observe their older classmates working on various lessons.
• Lessons and classrooms are set up around the specific needs of each individual child.
• Children learn at their own rate, with extra support when needed and advancement for those who are ready to progress.
• When they complete the Montessori program they leave with a well-rounded education, including academics and important life skills like independence and conflict resolution.

Mathematics

We introduce the concept of quantity and the symbols for quantity through Montessori math materials. Number rods, sandpaper numerals, cards and counters, bead trays and bead frames or the abacus let students count and compare, and become familiar with numbers as a decimal system — including detailed practice with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

These exercises teach students to calculate and to understand how numbers work in their daily living activities. Montessori math materials help children learn and understand math with hands-on, visual and physical learning aids, connecting concrete knowledge to concepts that are often abstract.

Sciences

We focus on life sciences, biology, physical science and astronomy throughout our science curriculum. Students experience hands-on, inquiry-based learning that lets them practise the scientific method — determining relationships, collecting data, taking part in facilitated discussions about the scientific process, and exploring and evaluating what they find.

Through simple experiments we introduce children to the wonders of nature and its functions and processes, illustrating natural phenomena like the rain cycle, evaporation and condensation. We also teach biology, botany, geology, geography, physics and chemistry, aiming to foster knowledge of and respect for the life around them.

Language

According to Dr. Montessori, the evolution of language begins with the infant’s unique capacity to absorb intact fragments of language, which serve as a basis for development. The child first discovers that sounds have meaning, then learns to isolate the parts of speech, and finally grasps the use of full sentences.

Our teachers nurture students’ innate language skills and help them read and write at their own pace through comprehensive, child-centred lessons. Our language program enriches and expands the ability to speak, read and write through daily oral and written activities, with books provided to hone reading and comprehension. Students explore pre-history, ancient writing systems and the evolution of writing tools, building an appreciation for both old and advanced writing systems developed by humans through time.

Sensorial education

Because of the natural spontaneous interest of a child, we provide an environment where they can freely use that spontaneity as a tool to develop skills and capabilities across language, mathematics, science, social attitude and recreational activities.

We let them explore, exercise and learn the vocabulary that matches their sensorial experiences. Those experiences help them form a frame of reference with which they can classify the inputs to their senses and succeed in every other field. Through this we strive to ignite their enthusiasm and love for learning.

Practical life experience

At an early age we help children exercise their independence and sense of control over their own lives, through activities that promote muscle development, eye-hand coordination, concentration and commitment to finishing a task. We use household chores as simple ways to build understanding of how life works and improve proficiency in dealing with everyday situations.

Dr. Montessori structured several exercises for the classroom to help the child satisfy their need for meaningful activity. For these exercises we use familiar objects — brushes, buttons, bottles, chairs and many other items the child recognises from home. Using these materials, the child hones coordination, concentration, attention to detail and the ability to follow a consistent order of action, while acquiring positive working habits.