Preparation for School
Is your little one curious and interested in trying new things, or more hesitant and cautious? Either way, making the transition from home to school can be a big step. At One Forest Montessori, we are here to help. Our half-day morning program will provide a gentle, first taste of what a school day will be like.
Each day begins with a warm greeting, where children learn to hang their coats and change into indoor shoes. We encourage independence while providing support and celebrating each success. You’ll see your child’s confidence grow as they try new skills in a safe, nurturing environment.
Our morning routine includes:
Exploring hands-on materials in the classroom
Sharing a healthy, home-prepared snack
Participating in a short group circle time with songs and stories
Enjoying outdoor play
Children will learn to follow a daily routine, express themselves verbally, and follow multi-step instructions. They will also develop important social skills with the guidance of a caring, experienced adult. Academic preparation will naturally emerge through their interactions with Montessori materials.
The Montessori classroom is divided into five main areas:
Sensorial: These materials encourage children to explore all of their 5 senses through hands-on activities. They include visual grading of size or colour, tactile explorations of textures and weight, as well as pattern recognition.
Practical Life: This area offers children opportunites to develop real life skills such as cutting paper, sweeping, buttoning a shirt, pouring liquid and simple food preparation. As they engage in these activities, they refine their coordination and strengthen their fine motor skills. Through consistent practice, they gain confidence and increased independence.
Math: Children engage with activities that introduce numerals, quantities, the decimal system, operations, and geometry. Concepts are presented as each child is ready.
Language: Language skills are developed in stages, including oral language development, phonetic sounds, word building and recognition, writing, and reading. We use Sandpaper Letters and a phonics program called Jolly Phonics to teach letter sounds.
Culture: This area encompasses Art, History, Science, Cultural and Physical Geography, Music and Languages. The curriculum is tied together through what Maria Montessori called “Cosmic Education”. These lessons teach children about the interconnectedness of all living things and they provide a framework for understanding the world around them and their place in it. Through stories and hands-on materials, children start to understand the cycles of the natural world, their own culture and cultures of those around the world.
If you would like to learn more or see our program in action, please reach out and we can book a time for you to visit. Instagram and Facebook are also great ways to get a peek into the highlights of our day.