North Shore Montessori School

Children's House - The Children's House is the heart of the Montessori program. It provides preparation for grade school at the preschool level. The program is designed for children aged 3 to 5 years and meets 2,3, or 5 days a week for either a half day or full day. The Children's House classroom environment allows for the balance of structure and flexibility that allows for the natural development of each child's physical, emotional and cognitive skills. The day is designed to allow children the freedom to explore the prepared classroom environment and complete work in each of the main areas of learning: Mathematics, Practical Life, Language Arts, Sensorial and Culture. Concepts are introduced by the teacher in individual, small group, and whole group lessons. Children are allowed uninterrupted blocks of time to explore new concepts through the hands of use of self-correcting materials which promote independence. Teachers are always observing to see when children are ready for new concepts and curriculum is designed for each individual child.

Stepping Stones The Stepping Stones program is for children 18 months to 36 months old. The toddler program appropriately accommodates the very young childs sensitive period for language by offering creative and intriguing concepts to expand his/her growing vocabulary. Joining conversations, listening to stories, classifying objects and learning songs and poems all nurture their budding language skills. To help smooth their initial social interactions, the toddlers learn to use words for feelings they experience in themselves and others. Many of the activities in the toddler program highlight the self-help skills that lead to independence. Since this is an age of very strong imitation, the teacher constantly model appropriate social skills, good manners, and consideration of others. The Stepping Stones classroom is set up to foster an environment of freedom and explorations.