Harvest Green Montessori

Only through freedom and environmental experience is it practically possible for human development to occur.

- Maria Montessori

At HGM, our transition program is to assist the child as they fulfill the basic human tasks of trust, separation, independence and self-control. The focus is both on curriculum and materials to help the toddler respond to rapid and conflicting changes of this development age. Harvest Green Montessori advances each child's growth and development through a rich and well-prepared environment designed just for transition. We strongly believe that key components of a successful transition program include a prepared environment, meaningful activity, collaboration between parents and teachers. All materials are age-appropriate and sanitized. Extra measures are in place to ensure potty train and hand washing are performed to maintain the highest level of cleanliness and hygiene. Transition are gently guided and encouraged to explore safely indoors and outside on our playground, which is specially designed to match the needs of active transition.

KEY AREA OF FOCUS

Children experiment with different letter sounds and start to explore characters and story plots.

Group activities help children learn to follow directions, take turns and develop friendships.

Children explore number concepts and practice comparing, classifying and measuring. They begin using number lines.

Children practice fine motor skills with puzzles and improve balance through fun activities.

Children clap, move and sing songs; create art by folding, cutting and coloring; and act out lyrics to favorite songs.

Children explore the traditions of other cultures and learn Spanish vocabulary for farm animals, family members and numbers 1-10.

Children perform simple experiments, learn about the weather, and compare personal characteristics.

Children are introduced to basic technology vocabulary and begin to use the mouse and keyboard.

Curriculum

Grace and Courtesy

Grace and Courtesy in reaction to the young child's need for order. The Primary Transition Class is the perfect place to begin these exercises in Grace and Courtesy because the child at the end of the first plane of development is not yet self-conscious and doesn't realize what the child is doing at times. Grace and Courtesy lessons are given to each child in the environment and usually in a group. This allows the child to have a clear understanding as well as a place to perfect themselves with each other. Grace and Courtesy provides manners and hones the child's skills. In the end, the child will have incorporated these graces and courtesies into his everyday life, which will allow for a more pleasant classroom and environment wherever the child may go.

Practical Life

Practical Life is the true heart of a Montessori classroom. By working on real-life tasks, children develop their independence, coordination, and concentration, through a variety of activities that explore daily activities such as eating, cutting, polishing, sweeping, dressing, and cleaning. Teachers demonstrate these tasks that explore caring for the environment and the self, encouraging responsibility and promoting self-esteem.

Sensorial

Sensorial materials in the Montessori classroom are made to help the child explore the world through their senses. Each of the sensorial materials isolates one quality such as color, weight, shape, texture, size, sound and smell. These materials help children to figure out the difference between information, to categorize, and to relate new information to what they already know. Sensorial Materials are largely self- correcting, so the child can accomplish most of these exercises alone. Children find a sense of order in these materials and acquire a joy in learning that their environment has order.

Language

Language development is vital to human development. Our Montessori environment is rich in oral language opportunities, allowing the child to experience conversations, stories and poetry. The sandpaper letters help children link sound and symbol effortlessly, encouraging the development of written expression and reading skills. To further reading development, children are exposed to the study of grammar. Language experiences encourage children to master and blend sounds to build words, instead of the traditional memorization of "sight words." This gives children the tools to read at a higher level.

Mathematics

Early mathematics activities are designed to transform ideas into actions, using concrete learning materials, resulting in making abstract concepts clearer to the learner. These experiences explore the underlying fundamentals of algebra, geometry, logic, and statistics, plus operational principles, such as addition, multiplication, division, and subtraction.

Geography

History and geography begins with the study of maps and the two hemispheres of Earth and becomes more and more detailed as children will learn about countries and Continents. The very young child will use the wooden puzzle maps as puzzles, but the older child can use the pieces as a guide as he makes his own maps, labeled with his own handwriting when he is ready.

Science and Nature

Children are introduced many topics and learn to make predictions in their Science and Nature activities. The land and water work, introducing the concepts of Lake and Island, is closely connected to the Geography curriculum. Children learn about volcanoes, the layers of the Earth and the solar system. Children will go on nature walks and then research the leaves, seed they have found. Activities include Sink or Float, Living or Non-Living, Magnetic or Non-Magnetic, Land and Water Forms, the Structure of the Earth and Botany.

Art

Art is one of the many ways children express themselves. Art is a way for children to communicate their feelings. It is through art that children develop their fine motor skills. In the Montessori environment, we provide open-ended art activities that help children explore and use their creativity.