Programs

We are now enrolling children aged 2.5 to 13 years!

Overview of 3-6 age group (preschool, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and 1st Grade) Montessori and the STEAM curriculum :

We introduce topics within science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) as well as language development to expose children to a wide variety of content and inspire passion within them.

Practical Life

Practical life forms the core of the child’s work. This area aids the child’s development in: care of the person, care of the environment, control of movement and social relations. This area is the foundation for subsequent academic learning because it provides

1. A sense of order; a task’s beginning, middle, and end

2. A sense of independence– “I can do it by myself.”

3. A sense of coordination– the child brings his/her muscles under his/her own control.

4. Most important of all, an ability to concentrate, because learning can only occur when concentration is present.

Tasks are broken down into simple steps so that the children learn to button, tie, zip, buckle, pour, wash tables and chairs, polish silvers, brass and wood, wash and hang clothes, sweep the floor, prepare and serve food for themselves and others, all with grace and courtesy. As soon as the child has the basis for integrity; given by the experiences of practical life, he/she moves to the sensorial portion of the curriculum.

Sensorial 

Between birth and six years, the child has a special sensitivity to sensorial impressions. Therefore, Dr. Montessori designed sensorial materials to help the child develop his/her senses and powers of observation. This development of children’s physical sense enhances their readiness for greater intellectual work. The child works with Montessori sensorial materials designed to develop and train his/her sense of

1. Taste: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, etc.

2. Hearing: pitch, tone, loud and soft, etc.

3. Sight: many series of blocks for long and short, broad and narrow, small large, and puzzles with geometric shapes

4. Touch: smooth and rough, hot and cold, heavy and light, etc.

5. Smell: spices, herbs, flower scents, etc.

There are also activities for the development of the senses of balance, and concepts such as shortest to longest, smallest to biggest, smooth to rough, and color tints. Through the use of these materials, children begin to sharpen their awareness and increase their perception of the world around them.

Math

Concepts of Montessori math are first presented in concrete terms. Abstract forms are introduced when the child has understood the meaning and use of symbols by using the Montessori materials. The materials are designed to help the child understand basic mathematical concepts like the 1-10 number scale (sandpaper numbers), associating quantity and numerals (spindle boxes), and the decimal system and place value. As the child progresses, materials such as the bead stair are used for working with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Children in a Montessori class never sit down to simply memorize addition, subtraction, or multiplication tables, rather they learn these facts by performing the operation with physical materials.

Language

Although language is one the four basic learning areas in a Montessori class, it spans throughout all the areas. Language consists of verbal skills, visual perception, and small muscle coordination. Therefore, language education begins with listening games, training the hand with the metal insets and puzzles, and familiarizing the child with the symbols of the alphabet using the sandpaper letters. The period for writing generally occurs between ages 3-1/2 and 4-1/2, and development in this area leads directly into the period for reading between 4 and 5.

A complete reading system is available to the students. Through the use of these materials, students gain an understanding that separate sounds can be blended together to make words. Even the learning of reading incorporates movement, from the tracing of the sandpaper letters to manipulating the letters of the movable alphabet to form words.

Geography / Cultural Studies / Science and Nature

The children are introduced to the three basic elements: land, air, and water. At first, the students use large wooden continent puzzle maps simply as puzzles. Gradually they learn the names of the continents, and then move on to country maps, studying climate, people and products. Culture units then cover food, dress and music from different countries, while typical geography units include world flags, land formations, the globe, beginning mapping (exploration of the neighborhood) and even the solar system. Hands-on projects reinforce geographic concepts such as making island and peninsula land formations out of clay.

Students learn science and nature through simple experiments with familiar materials such as sink/float and magnetic/non-magnetic. They also get hands-on experiences with gardening, seeds, and flowers. The students will learn to classify living/non-living, plant/animal and vertebrate/invertebrate. Classroom science units will cover topics such as minerals, the official cycle of a butterfly, bones and skeletons, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds. The calendar, seasons, and telling time will also be covered.

Accreditation and Affiliations

Northbrook Montessori School understands the importance of ensuring the quality and fidelity of our educational program by following the regulations, guidelines, and policies of certain accrediting organizations. Therefore as part of a multiyear process, we are seeking accreditation with American Montessori Society.