Infant Daily Learning
Your infant will spend their day in a warm, comforting setting cared for by a primary caregiver that has a genuine love for children. Our staff will provide loving interaction by rocking, singing, cuddling, reading, tummy time and floor exercises. Because the first year of life is full of rapid changes and unique challenges we maintain a low infant-to-caregiver ratio. Our
infant caregivers are chosen not only because of their education and experience but also because they love babies. Caregivers form lasting bonds with each infant and interact naturally with each child in a warm and loving way. Babies are cared for based on their individual needs and demands. The babies in our care learn security and trust through comfort, cuddling and consistency. Our program certainly involves rocking, baby food, bottles, diaper changing and sleeping. They will also experience the sound of reading and singing and, as they grow, stimulating activities such as whipped cream finger painting, baby exercise, and activities designed specifically for each child's individual needs and capabilities. Art at this stage is primarily creating keepsakes for you to enjoy. Materials are provided to encourage eye-hand coordination, large and small motor skills. Direct communication through your primary caregiver and daily report sheets helps to fill you in your baby’s day. Our infant program is designed to develop your baby’s senses through visual, physical, verbal and rhythmic stimulation. We provide a wonderful place for infants to take their first steps confidently into childhood. Toddler Classroom
Toddlers need an environment planned and organized in such a way that is developmentally appropriate for them as toddlers: one that is not a miniature or watered down preschool. They need stability and consistency in order to learn to separate easily. The Toddler Program’s curriculum consists of separation, forming new attachments, and exploring. In a Montessori Toddler Class, learning occurs when the children participate in daily routines that include self-care and care of the environment. Dr. Montessori identified five “sensitive periods’ in a toddler’s development. These sensitive periods include Independence, Movement, Language, Social Interaction and Cognitive Exploration. One of the roles of the toddler teacher is to plan and maintain an environment that will help encourage and nurture this development. The toddler program at PCC offers an atmosphere that shows evidence of unconditional love, safety, and acceptance. The classroom offers a variety of interesting things for the children to look at, explore and experience. The PCC Toddler program also offers a consistent routine without adhering to a rigid time schedule. We follow the rhythmic patterns of the individual toddlers in our classroom. The Montessori Way
The Montessori environment is set up so the child is given freedom to choose their own work, which aids in the development of independence, self discipline and cultivates his/her own natural desire to learn. The classroom is prepared for the size and interest of the child with materials placed on low shelves within easy reach of all children. The children are permitted to work independently, or with another child, at a table or rug rolled out on the floor where they are naturally comfortable. Activities are organized in sequential order with materials progressing from easiest to more difficult or largest to smallest in a left to right, top to bottom fashion, each isolating a single usable skill and is designed to be self-correcting. The Montessori classroom is divided into five main areas of focus: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Math, and Geography. Practical Life Area:
Practical Life is the foundation of the Montessori classroom. It meets the basic needs of the child to gain self-confidence, independence, concentration, sequence and order and movement coordination. The child learns to take care of themselves, others and their environment. Sensorial Area:
Sensorial incorporates the child exploring characteristics such as size, shapes, colors, weight, etc. Each sensorial material will focus on one quality, such as size (biggest to smallest) as the child builds the pink tower. The sensorial materials also will build the child’s vocabulary as they learn the names of colors, geometry shapes, geometric figures and dimensional differences. The child begins to pay more attention to detail by observing and relating new information to what they know. Language Area:
Language is everywhere in the Montessori environment. The child will continue to expand their vocabulary through spoken language; through conversations, being introduced to new lessons and talking with their friends. Writing and reading begins with phonics. Sound games will be played at the beginning to help the child hear and distinguish beginning, middle and ending sounds of words. Sandpaper letters are next introduced to connect the sounds to their symbols. The child is able to hear, trace and see each sound. Now the child is ready to begin writing with the moveable alphabet, forming words by sounding out the word and connecting the appropriate letters together. As the child advances, blends and phonograms will be introduced. Reading will begin as the child continues to work with the moveable alphabet. The child will integrate their language skills to all areas of the environment. Math Area:
Math begins with understanding concepts first, then moving into abstraction. The Montessori Math curriculum is hands-on beginning with learning quantities and symbols from 1-10. From here, the child will begin working with the decimal system learning quantities and symbols 1-9,999. The child is excited to gather large quantities on their tray, such as 8,794! Learning the concepts of the four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) begin with the decimal system working with four digit numbers. As the child progresses, each math manipulative becomes a little more of a challenge moving into abstraction. Geography Area:
Geography opens the world to the child. Learning about their world is exciting! The child will learn about the different land and water forms (lakes, islands, strait, isthmus, peninsula, gulf, etc.) by pouring them and learning their names. The Montessori environment has large continent maps for the child to build. As the child progresses, language will be added by learning the continent names and their countries. The child will learn about different cultures, animals and food of the world. Montessori Outcomes
3-6 years
Social Development Moral Development
• Self-Discipline * Perseverance, good work habits
• Increased independence derived from new skills * Ability to choose
• Knowledge of appropriate and specific prosocial behaviors * Self-discipline
• Patience and ability to share * Independence
• Respect for others * Mental Balance
• A willingness to abide by rules to create social order * Sublimation of the possessive instinct
* Care and respect for the environment and for others
* Willingness to abide by rules to create social order
Cognitive Development Emotional Development
• Clarification and classification of impressions absorbed * Pleasure in purposeful activity
• Increase in knowledge/vocabulary * Happiness, joy
• Refinement of sense perception/discrimination * Emotional wellness
• Logical/linear thinking * A healthy concern for life
• New skills and competencies * A healthy concern for life
• Sustained interest * Love for people and things
• Augmentation of intellect *Serenity, calmness ,satisfaction, emotional equilibrium
• Internalization of symbol systems: language and mathematics * Warm, expressive, outgoing and optimistic personalities.
• Concrete operations on the above symbol systems with Montessori materials.
