The Program

How does it work?

How does it work?

All our classrooms operate on the principle of freedom within limits and are based on core Montessori beliefs of respect for each other and the environment. The child is free to work at his/her own pace, with the materials they have chosen. The teacher relies on her empirical observations to determine which new activities to introduce to the child.

The aim is to encourage active, positive and self-directed learning. The younger children are inspired and motivated asking for explanations, while older children share what they have learned while simultaneously reinforcing their own learning and leadership skills. This encourages an atmosphere of inspiration and cooperation.

The Casa Program

The Philosophy

Dr. Montessori believed that human beings learn from participating in activities. They must do the work for themselves and only then, is learning actually taking place with interest and understanding. She felt that children learn best in a prepared classroom environment, which serves to make the child independent of the adult. The teacher, or directress as they are known, allows the children to work at their own pace giving them an opportunity to explore and absorb what they learn.

In fulfillment of the Montessori philosophy, we encourage parents to commit to the three year program and encourage families to carry the Montessori philosophy into their homes. This helps create harmonious and mutually supportive atmosphere where children have a positive attitude towards school and receive lifelong learning skills.

The Environment

A Montessori environment is prepared for children three to six years of age, together in one class, with materials appropriate for each level. The classroom provides exactness, precision and an esthetically pleasing environment in which the children learn respect for one another and the materials around them. They must be accessible to the child with generally only one of each exercise. This encourages the child to be patient and wait for their turn or choose another activity, thus learning respect for others. The child's classroom is prepared to help children accomplish their goals and work independently by gaining confidence and practice in a particular skill. Gradually the children reveal qualities for which they are not usually given credit for such as:

  • Concentration skills
  • Precision of movement (fine and gross motor skills)
  • A sense of order (orderly working habits)
  • Maximum effort, even by the youngest children
  • Self-discipline and a respect for others and the environment
  • Logical thought and responsibility peacefulness and kindness towards others an obvious joy in "work"
Sensorial:

Here you will find materials to refine a child’s senses. There are items that vary in colour, shape texture, or sound. The materials are designed to encourage a child to notice small, but important differences. This provides the youngster with a greater ability to discriminate, and appreciate, that which is around her.

Practical Life:

Your child works with everyday objects that have a visible purpose. He knows and understands these materials, and finds this area to be a comfortable link between home and school. Here he can practice being just like an adult, and in so doing learn to pay attention to detail, to persevere, to gain precision and to develop great concentration. As adults, we think of these activities as ordinary.....our children view them as exciting.

Language:

This area is rich with materials to teach language in its many forms. You will find the beginning of the reading programme, as well as the tools required to teach your child to write. Although reading and writing can be a difficult process for young children, Dr. Montessori’s materials enable each child to learn at her own pace, moving from the simple to the complex, from the concrete to the abstract.

Mathematics:

The basic concepts of mathematics are very easily absorbed through play with the various materials in this area. It is through touching, feeling, counting, and seeing that your child develops an accurate and deep-seated understanding of mathematics. The intricate games fascinate the children, and they have the satisfaction of having learned these facts by themselves, through a process of discovery.

Arts, Music, Culture:

These last three topics round out the curriculum our classroom. For the creative child, we have painting and craft tables. For the older children, we work with maps of the world and do studies of plants, and animals, landforms and the seasons. Every student has French for about 30 minutes, each week. They sing songs, play games, and listen to stories in French. We teach music using different instruments during circle time. Each child is learning to understand rhythm and beat, and they do enjoy it.

These tools, or classroom materials, are available to our students every day. It is through the manipulation of these various elements that our children learn for themselves. It is always amazing to see the concentration in a child who is working hard on something in which she is interested! Here, she has the freedom to grow and learn, and these positive experiences will create a child who is self- confident, self-disciplined, and independent. In a Montessori Classroom, you will notice that each child works at his own pace. No child feels the penalty of being “slow”, and no child is made to mark time if he is capable of advancing. Young children are stimulated by the expose of older children’s work, and the older students are able to reinforce their newly acquired skills by helping their young friends. In this environment, learning becomes a natural function, one that is effortless, while at the same time, challenging, and more meaningful than idle play. Your child must not be expected to work all day!

Toddler Program

Introduction to the Toddler Program

Bimley–Steeles’ Toddler Program is comprehensive, challenging and diverse. The program offers professional childcare and an early childhood education program, with a general introduction to the Montessori Philosophy and Methodology for children from 18 months to 2.5 years of age. Our teachers are committed to providing quality care and education. The program's mandate is to provide a nurturing and positive environment for children and their parents.

Toddler Class Environment and Classroom Materials

The class is set for a Toddler's exploration, relaxation and problem solving. Soft areas are available for young toddlers to lie on, allowing them to explore their immediate environment. There are also challenging areas for older toddlers who are ready for physical activities and more exploration around the classroom. Different areas in the classroom offer educational toys and materials that respond to the young child's needs to reach, grab, dump, and for the older infant to push, carry, build, etc. Our children also enjoy the outdoors, (weather permitting), taking "walks "enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.

Student Teacher Ratio

At Brimley-Steeles Montessori School, we are strongly committed to maintaining an optimal teacher to student ratio. For the Toddler Class, it is a ratio of 1:5, with the maximum number of students in each class set at 15.

Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Math, Culture and Science

The practical life area is the building block for future development in all areas of the Montessori environment. For the toddler children, the practical life materials offer an opportunity to begin developing their fine and gross motor skills, focusing abilities, attention span and concentration levels. The sensorial materials introduce sizes, colours, basic geometric shapes and sounds allowing children to begin "classifying" the world around them. The children are introduced to preliminary language exercises allowing them to learn the sounds that make up words. The focus, however, remains enriching the toddler's vocabulary, sentence formation, and the development and enrichment of their oral language skills. In the math area, simple concepts of numbers and time are introduced through songs, counting by rote and the daily calendar. In the culture and science areas the children are introduced to basic concepts, learning about animals, botany and geography. The work with such materials as the puzzle maps, leaf pressing and discover interesting facts about animals from around the world. Science experiments that are age appropriate, interesting, fun and interactive are also a part of the curriculum.