Recognizing both the tremendous need
for quality early childhood education (particularly in our neighborhood, which
currently has no preschools) and the unparalleled opportunity to make a
transformative difference in the lives of children in Camden, we plan to open a
pilot Montessori primary classroom in September 2015. The classroom will have
space for up to 24 three, four, and five-year-olds. The first year we will only
enroll three and four year olds, capping enrollment at 16 children. The second
year we will enroll a new group of primarily three year olds, which will give
us a three-year age span. Our program will be a full school day, with the
option of extended hours for families who need the extra hours of childcare. Funding
A
core objective is to serve low income families; over 80% of
the enrolled children qualify for free or reduced lunch.
To ensure that a Montessori early childhood education is affordable to
low-income families, the operating costs of this program will be subsidized by
a combination of state childcare subsidies and private funding (grants and
donations). We seek partners who can give financially to help low-income families provide Montessori education for their children. See "How to Give" for details.
Curriculum
Curriculum
A Montessori-trained lead teacher
and an assistant will facilitate implementation of the full Montessori
three-year curriculum as defined by the American Montessori Society (AMS). This
includes five curriculum areas:
- Practical Life (daily living exercises) – control of movement, self-care, care of the indoor and outdoor environments, food preparation, grace and courtesy
- Sensorial – sensory education that includes matching, sorting and grading by sensory qualities (size, texture, sound, temperature, smell, weight, color, shape, etc.); introduces pre-math concepts and provides the foundation for mathematics curriculum
- Language
– develop language skills in oral language, writing, and reading
- Math – progress from pre-math skills and basic numeracy to four-digit operations in addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division
- Sciences and culture – multi-sensory explorations of life science, earth science, physical science, geography, art, history, and music
Nurturing
each child’s connection to the natural world and teaching responsible use of
resources are central components of the Montessori curriculum. We will have
outdoor time daily for physical exercise and play, gardening, and nature
education. Knowing that the urban communities like Camden face greater risks
for obesity and poor nutrition, we will emphasize and incorporate health and
nutrition education throughout the curriculum, including the use of gardening,
provision of healthy meals and snacks, and teaching food preparation skills. We
teach and encourage movement, coordination, and exercise through a specially
designed Montessori Movement curriculum.
The Montessori approach views education as an aid to life, seeking to nurture the holistic growth of each individual. As such, an important component of the Montessori curriculum is the development of pro-social and conflict resolution skills. These are modeled and taught explicitly as part of the grace and courtesy content area. These skills are also developed through teaching appreciation and respect for diversity in the science and culture curriculum as well as through peace education, which is incorporated throughout the Montessori curriculum.
We welcome families of all religions and backgrounds. While this Montessori program will approach spiritual formation from a Christian perspective, the Montessori philosophy of focusing on the whole child – mind, body, and spirit – fosters a classroom environment that nurtures each child’s spirit and respects the diverse values and beliefs of the families they come from.
The Montessori approach views education as an aid to life, seeking to nurture the holistic growth of each individual. As such, an important component of the Montessori curriculum is the development of pro-social and conflict resolution skills. These are modeled and taught explicitly as part of the grace and courtesy content area. These skills are also developed through teaching appreciation and respect for diversity in the science and culture curriculum as well as through peace education, which is incorporated throughout the Montessori curriculum.
We welcome families of all religions and backgrounds. While this Montessori program will approach spiritual formation from a Christian perspective, the Montessori philosophy of focusing on the whole child – mind, body, and spirit – fosters a classroom environment that nurtures each child’s spirit and respects the diverse values and beliefs of the families they come from.
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