Montessori Programs
Montessori Education Philosopher, Doctor Maria Montessori believed that the goal of early learning should not be to fill children with facts from pre-selected course studies, but rather to cultivate their own natural desire to learn. Central to the Montessori philosophy is the premise that no human being is educated by another person. Individuals must do it by themselves. A truly educated person continues learning long after the hours spent in the classroom because they are motivated from within by natural curiosity and love for knowledge.
Habitat Early Learning offers an eclectic pedagogic approach incorporating the elements of the Montessori philosophy harmonised with the Early Years Learning Framework and principles of sound early childhood practice. Montessori programs are offered within Parkview Montessori (Ferny Grove) and Level One (Nundah). The specifically designed rooms are equipped with Montessori approved materials, catering for children aged from 15 months to 5 years. Our Montessori Educators have recognised early childhood qualifications as required under the National Quality Framework, as well as either or both Montessori qualifications and/or teaching experience.
The Montessori Classroom
The self-paced classroom is a prepared environment designed to support the child’s need for purposeful activity. Within our environments, the furniture is easily moved, pictures are hung at eye level, and plants are easily watered by children. The basin in the classrooms are child sized as the children are taught to use it for the purpose of washing dishes after use and getting themselves a drink. Activities on shelves are always displayed in an orderly manner and the children are taught to respect each activity for its purpose.
Curriculum Structure
practical life
Practical life is at the heart of the Montessori philosophy assisting children to learn self-help skills and gain independence. Practical life provides the child with an opportunity to practice day to day skills such as dressing, cleaning up following a task, pouring drinks, preparing meals, and washing up after mealtimes, and to prepare for other areas of the Montessori program.
sensorial
Sensorial materials are designed to assist a child’s development of the five senses. Such materials allow for individual work and repetition and aim to refine senses of colour, weight, shape, texture, size, smell, taste and sound. Materials are mathematically graded and isolate one quality only, keeping the remaining characteristics identical and are limited to both scope and quantity. Because of the clarity of the concepts, the sensorial materials lay a solid foundation for mathematics, geometry, geography, botany, art and music.
mathematics
Mathematics materials allow the children to work with quantities 1 to 10 in several dimensions. We teach children using both concrete and abstract materials. Number recognition is taught using sandpaper numerals, enabling the child to learn through tactile and visual aids. When doing addition, multiplication, subtraction and division they literally carry and borrow and change the quantities involved.
language
Language materials provide an opportunity for children to discover something that is beyond what lies on the surface. The purpose of the language program is verbal and non-verbal skill development. Through such activities as sandpaper letters and the moveable alphabet children acquire the foundational skills of literacy.
If you are interested in learning more about how Montessori education can benefit your child please contact Montessori Advisor, Smeeta Vanmali [email protected]
