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Programs Primary Program -- Ages 3 to 6 The Primary program is designed to foster independence
in the child and help him or her move toward mastery of both himself and
the environment. Primary classrooms are specially prepared environments
that encourage children to develop a love of learning and trust in their
own ability to learn. The most important years of a child's growth are
the first six years of life when unconscious learning is gradually brought
to the conscious level. This period lays the foundation for all future
development. As an aid to this period of the child's self-construction,
individual work is encouraged in the Montessori classroom. Full Day (for Children 4-1/2 and Above) Independent work and social interaction become well developed in our older Primary children. Their minds are more rational and less instinctive than at an earlier age, and they not only need but also demand more intellectual stimulation. Their energy is seemingly endless. They are increasingly self-directed and self-disciplined, eager for the challenge and the opportunity to shape their social and physical surroundings. As they move from concrete learning to the more abstract levels of thinking, more advanced materials are provided. The atmosphere fosters exploration and creativity while remaining warm and supportive. The Primary Program offers an afternoon class for children
four and a half years and older after a conference between teacher and
parent determines that the child is academically, socially and emotionally
ready for the responsibilities of the longer class time. The afternoon
class starts at 1:00 p.m. with a group lesson which is typically centered
around one of the many topics we have explored in the morning, in perhaps
Science or Geography. The remainder of the afternoon is spent working
with the Montessori materials that have been presented to the children
individually in the morning. Morning or Afternoon Kindergarten Class In general, we believe that the third year of Montessori schooling at the Primary level (Kindergarten) is of unique importance and we encourage five-year old children to remain with their Primary level Montessori class, rather than going to public school. However, since this is the first year of operation for Ogden Valley Montessori School, we would like to offer parents the option of sending their five-year-old children to public school for half-day Kindergarten (morning or afternoon) and to Ogden Valley Montessori School for the other half of the day. The children may attend either morning or afternoon class (morning class is from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM; afternoon class is from 1:00 PM to 3:15 PM). Children in the Kindergarten class must be five years old by September 30. Note: This arrangement will be offered for the 2002-2003
session only as full day attendance is far preferable for children above
the age of four and a half. Maria Montessori developed materials for refining the
senses. The materials help the child to discriminate sound, color, size,
shape, smell and touch. The materials in the classroom area called "practical
life" deal with using the child's love of movement, concentration
and repetition. The activities involve pouring, sweeping, dressing, stacking,
folding, wiping, polishing and washing that include care of the environment,
care of the self, and grace and courtesy. Conversational manners, table
manners and courtesy to others are all part of the activities in a Montessori
classroom. Her math equipment is regarded by many as the most complete
available. Four year olds can have a thorough understanding of the decimal
system effortlessly. The reading materials teach both phonetic and sight
reading skills at an age when the child absorbs language easily. The curriculum
also includes geography, music, art, science, and history materials. The
method is adaptable to all subjects. All Montessori exercises employ movement,
manipulatives, free choice (within limits) and a point of completion.
They are usually self-correcting and help the child develop his sense
of order, his concentration, and his independence. The following areas of the classroom cultivate the children's adaptation and ability to express and think with clarity: The Practical Life activities help children master many of the tasks they see as part of the daily routine in their home, such as preparing food, pouring liquids, washing dishes and sweeping, along with exercises of grace and courtesy. To the child, these are meaningful activities that involve caring for him or herself, other people, and the environment. The practical life activities help children develop muscular coordination and improve hand-eye coordination. The children also develop their powers of control and concentration as they learn to work at a task from beginning to end. Lessons of grace and courtesy are taught, or what might
be called "good old-fashioned manners". Conversational manners,
table manners and courtesy to others are all part of the activities in
a Montessori classroom. An elliptical line is marked out on the floor
that is used for "walking on the line" activities that help
children develop gracefulness in walking. It is also used for the "silence
game" -- one of their favorite games -- where children practice being
still and quiet. The line is used regularly as a large group meeting area,
which further assists in developing the sense of community at school.
At the beginning and end of the day, the class gathers for an opening
meeting that precedes a more individualized work period. At the end of
the morning, a second group time serves as a closing or transitional group
time preceding the next activity (outdoor time, lunch, dismissal, etc.).
The group meetings may be used for large group presentations of materials,
music and movement activities, group celebrations, snacks, games and discussions. Maria Montessori developed materials for refining the
senses. These Sensorial materials help the child to discriminate minute
differences in sound, color, size, shape, smell and touch. Dr. Montessori
believed that this process is the beginning of conscious knowledge. It
is brought about by the intelligence working in a concentrated way on
the impressions given by the senses. Some Montessori materials, such as
the binomial and trinomial cubes, also serve as concrete representations
of mathematical concepts that appear in later schooling. The Language materials include objects and pictures to be named, matched, labeled, and classified to aid in vocabulary development. Textured letters known as "sandpaper letters" allow the child to feel and see the alphabet, while the moveable alphabet leads the child towards the formation of his own words and reading. Once the child begins to blend sounds to make words, a variety of materials are available, ranging from simple phonetic three-letter words to materials that are designed to teach long-vowel sounds, phonograms, and parts of speech. A wide variety of reading materials are used to gain proficiency and a love of reading. Throughout the classroom language is heard and expressed
constantly. The Primary teachers take note of each child's state of language
and will then fill the inadequacies and deficiencies, correct mispronunciations
and wrong usage of words, and will enlarge the vocabulary already learned.
American Sign Language and Spanish will also be taught in Ogden Valley
Montessori School. The Montessori math equipment is regarded by many as the
most complete available. In a Montessori classroom, mathematics is a concrete
experience with specially designed manipulatives that gives children a
solid understanding of basic mathematical principles, prepares them for
later abstract reasoning, and helps to develop problem-solving capabilities.
The early materials are designed to teach the very basics, such as the
quantity and symbols of the numbers one to ten. Moving toward the more
advanced materials in the Primary classroom, "the Golden Bead"
material teaches concepts ranging from units, tens, hundreds, and thousands,
to the operations of addition, multiplication, subtraction and division.
Four year olds can have a thorough understanding of the decimal system
effortlessly. These materials are supplemented with games and other tools
for learning concepts such as time, money and fractions. Science activities are nature-based and include the study
of vertebrate and invertebrate animals, a variety of plant types, and
environments around the world that support a wide range of flora and fauna.
The children are in charge of, and take great pride in, caring for plants
and animals. Lessons and experiences with nature inspire a deep reverence
for all life. Children are given an introduction to physical and cultural
geography through the use of wooden puzzle maps, activities with pictures
and objects from other countries, and international celebrations and snacks
throughout the year. They learn an attitude of respect toward people from
other cultures, countries and religions. Through familiarity, children
come to feel connected to the global human family. Songs, stories and
games are incorporated into daily routines as they "travel"
the globe in class, visiting a different continent each month. History The comprehensive art and music programs offered at Ogden Valley Montessori give children the opportunity to enjoy a variety of creative activities, as well as gain knowledge of the great masters. Children begin early to express themselves with painting, paper cutting and design. Craft skills are introduced initially to enhance fine motor development. Students use a variety of artistic media to increase skills, communicate and enjoy the process of creating artistic works. Students study the contributions of art to world cultures and its significance to our society. In the Primary Program children participate in the Kindermusik
curriculum taught by a certified Kindermusik representative. The lessons
provide an opportunity for singing, listening, exploring musical instruments
and musical concepts, and movement. Students aged 4 and above are introduced
to reading and "writing" musical notation and are taught to
play several simple musical instruments. |