Mo's Montessori

Curriculum Statement 14 | Policies & Procedures The monTessori PrePared environmenT The equipment in the pre-school environment follows a clear progressive sequence and so of itself furnishes the curriculum of the class, setting objectives in a concrete way before each child and yet providing challenges adapted to his/her natural abilities. The prepared environment is adapted to suit the age group of two and a half to 6 year olds. The open shelves offer the child a range of equipment, providing him/her with incentives and opportunities for purposeful movement in key areas of his developmental and cultural needs. The equipment range remains basically the same from day to day, but the child is introduced to more and more activities as they develop and build their skills. The order of the equipment provides a framework of security, offering the possibility for the child to repeat activities, which builds concentration and meets the inner need of the child. The Montessori activities will encourage each child to develop self-reliance. They do things for themselves and learn to help others, teaching them respect for other people. The children will develop their initiative through the gradual increase in their ability to choose their own activity. As the equipment is generally self-corrective this allows the child to make independent progress at a pace suited to his abilities and without undue intervention from the teacher. The children will do grace and courtesy lessons throughout their day through examples and demonstrations shown by the teacher. For example they will learn how to greet a person, how to introduce themselves, how to walk around someone else's work, how to blow their nose, how to cough, how to walk not run in the class, how to ask to be part of an activity. These lessons support the children's self-reliance and are an aid to life. They are very enjoyable to partake in.

• Cover