Children's House
Children’s House Toddlers –
Ages 18 months-36 months
The toddler community at SVMS offers a unique beginning of self-development
in a warm atmosphere of respect, understanding and support. Within
a small group setting, our experienced teaching staff fulfills the
social, physical, emotional, developmental and psychological needs
of each child.
Our toddler program follows the Montessori philosophy that encourages
vocabulary development, independence and self- confidence for each
child. In this environment there is space for movement, individual
work and room for group activities. The environment is designed
to be safe and aesthetically pleasing. This freedom in a safe space
is a key element of the toddler program. Through positive daily
activities even the young child will gain an appreciation and respect
for the environment and his peers.
The program serves toddlers with a ratio of 1:6 and serves children
between the ages of 18 months to 36 months. The program operates
five days a week Monday-Friday with options of half day and full
day programs, partial and full week.
Children’s House Primary– Ages 3-6 years
The Montessori classroom is a prepared environment that allows children
to work towards their own development, be part of a community and
explore the environment around them. Children between the ages of
3 to 6 learn from direct contact with the environment by means of
all the senses and through movement. The child literally absorbs
everything in the environment.
At this age children are refining motor coordination, social skills,
concentration, a sense of order, independence and reasoning. The
teacher guides children in their whole development; physically,
mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Over a period of time, the
children develop into a 'normalized community' working with high
concentration and few interruptions.
The classroom is made-up of six areas: Practical Life/Art, Sensorial,
Math, Language, Science and Culture. Practical Life is the foundation
of a Montessori classroom and teaches the children to care for themselves
and their environment. With activities such as pouring, sewing,
apple cutting and polishing the children gain concentration, coordination
and self-confidence. The Sensorial Area helps children to become
aware of their surrounding world through refining their senses.
This area also prepares the children for mathematics by teaching
varying dimension and geometric shapes. Mathematics in a Montessori
classroom is taught using concrete materials. Staring with the Number
Rods the children learn the concept of base ten. At ages of four
and five the Golden Beads are used to introduce mathematical equations.
Language is part of all areas of the classroom. With a rich verbal
environment the children develop vocabulary and self-expression.
Through the sandpaper letters and realistic objects the children
learn their letter sound and gradually begin to spell and read phonetic
words. Science allows the children to explore their environment.
Through books, objects, photographs and coloring the children learn
about the animal kingdom, sink/float, living/non-living and magnets.
Culture is an important part of the classroom. Each month is spent
focusing on a different continent, including flags, celebrations,
ethnic foods and the people of different nations.
Maria Montessori believed that the ultimate goal of Montessori education
was world peace, for this reason culture and diversity is an essential
part of the classroom.
