The Three, Four and Five Year Olds Curriculum and the Prepared Environment

Our Lady of Grace's nationally recognized and accredited Montessori program follows New York State standards and curriculum while centering on the time-tested observations and methods of Dr. Montessori. She identified special characteristics in all children and based a curriculum on the following disciplines:

Practical Life

The Montessori practical life materials allow children to take part in the activities of daily adult life. The motions involved in these activities help children to gain gross motor control and hand-eye coordination while enhancing the development of task organization and cognitive order. These exercised correspond to the children's sensitive period for refinement of movement and coordination as well as a growing sense of independence through established activity.

Sensorial

In order for children to continue their creative task of development, they need to classify and express the impressions they have already received. Through sight, sound, touch, taste and smell, the sensorial Montessori materials enable children to clarify, classify, and comprehend their world.

Mathematics

Through the use of materials that introduce multi-dimensional approaches to the concepts of number, symbol, sequence, and mathematical operations, the Montessori mathematics materials enable children to begin their mathematical journey from the concrete to the abstract through manipulation, experimentation, and invention.

Language

Throughout the Montessori environment, children hear and use a precise vocabulary for all activities. Beginning with the twenty-six letters of the alphabet, the foundations of oral language development, written expression, reading and the study of grammar are mastered through the use of materials that allow children to link sounds, symbols and concepts.

The Classroom

Our carefully prepared environments balance the children's developing imagination and powers of abstraction with down-to-earth, concrete, hands-on-materials. The children "work with the materials rather play with toys." In our nurturing, child-friendly setting, every material has a structured sequence designed for discovery and understanding. These rich-in-motive sequences provide the "keys" of each discipline in a manner that also meets the children's needs for inspiration and order. By surrounding children with appealing materials and learning activities, they become accustomed to engaging activities on their own.