Curriculum

Elementary I: Syllabus

Required Reading

"The Montessori Method", "The Secret of Childhood", "The Absorbent Mind", "Advanced Montessori Vol I," "From Childhood to Adolescence", "To Educate the Human Potential" All are by Maria Montessori and available at your local bookstore or Nienhuis Montessori, 1-800-942-8697.

Life Sciences

This course will initate the student into the cosmic phenomena of Life Science with all its Montessori components. Through lecture demonstrations, discussions, practice and material making sessions, the student will become aware of the multi-faceted interdependencies that exist between all living things. They will learn the nomenclature related to animal and plant parts, the characteristics of both, and their life functions. The Elementary I curriculum will focus on the body systems, ecology and the major biomes. They will experience an ever deepening awareness of the Cosmic Role of all things as their spiraling study in each level adds new dimensions to concepts treated earlier. Students will learn how to integrate Life Science with both Earth and Physical Science.

Cultural Subjects

This course will treat all the concepts within the Geography and History Curriculum. In Geography, emphasis will be placed initially on Physical Geography and then will spread to concepts pertaining to Economic, Political, and Ethnological Geography. Through research guidelines, the student will learn how to integrate all the facets of this area of study. During the History section of this course, focus will include concepts of time, personal timelines and the "Basic Needs of Humans" activities. Students will be shown how to isolate an area of interest and then further develop it through research. In all these presentations, emphasis will continue to focus on the Cosmic Plan and its evolutionary progress from era to era.

Language Arts

This course will examine all the classical presentations related to each aspect of an integrated Language Arts Curriculum. Through lectures, presentations, discussions, practice and materials making sessions, students will grasp the important cohesive force of Language, spoken and written in a well-developed Montessori Program. Students will be shown how to balance the nurturing of manipulative, mechanical and intellectual skills. The holistic approach to reading, writing and spelling will be emphasized along with Montessori's classical lessons for work and sentence building, interpretation series and integrated cultural commands for comprehension, noting details, etc.

Mathematics/Algebra

This course will introduce the student to the sequential progression of the Montessori Mathematics curriculum. Students will be shown how to incorporate modern math concepts into the Montessori curriculum utilizing the basic materials. The history of mathematics will be given. Heavy emphasis will be placed on the fullest utilization of Montessori's Mathematics for internalization. In the Elementary II curriculum, Algebraic concepts, area and volume work will be given in depth.

PHilosophy and Child Development

Focus for the training program is on Dr. Maria Montessori's philosophy of education and child development. Her four Planes of Development will be discussed in depth.

Movement/Physical Education

This course will introduce students to activities that nurture self-esteem, social skills and coordination.

Practical Life

This course focuses on the importance and responsibility of the 6-12 child for the care of environment, care of self and care and respect of each other. There will be an emphasis on animal and plant care in the environment, gardening experiences and outdoor nature studies. Formal field trips and going out into the community to integrate their experiences in the classroom on a practical level is emphasized.

Fine Arts

This course will acquaint students with the many facets of the fine arts curriculum. It will present theory, notation, history of songs, dances and rhythmic activities. Through research projects, they will be shown how to focus on cultural differences, contributions made by artists, musicians and styles during periods of History, etc.

Classroom Management

Each course presenter will focus on teaching and management strategies that have proven most realistic for them and they will discuss salient points that need careful monitoring in their curriculum area. Guidelines will be given for setting up and maintaining a "Prepared Environment" that responds to all the basic need of the children. Establishment of ground rules, coping procedures, scheduling of presentations, communications with fellow staff, administrators and parents will be discussed and sample models shared.