The goal of the Montessori classroom is to encourage independent learning through self-directed activity and hands-on playthings. The classroom is carefully arranged and prepared by the teacher to encourage collaborative play while inviting a sense of order. Also, each element in the classroom has a specific learning objective. Here is what you can expect to find inside the Kinder Prep Montessori classroom.
Five Areas of the Montessori Classroom
While all of our Montessori classrooms are specifically designed for the age of children in them, you will find five basic areas in each one. These are a common part of Montessori education, and they include:
- Language Area: In the language area, children start to learn to recognize letters and their sounds. It’s not uncommon to find tactile letters, books, paper, writing utensils, and the movable alphabet in this area.
- Sensory Area: Young children need to learn about their bodies, senses, and movement. The sensory area has things for children to feel, touch, smell, and experience with all five senses.
- Math Area: From counting to basic addition and subtraction and even telling time, math skills start young. Therefore, our classrooms have math areas to help. Number Rods are a classic Montessori tool that teaches children the numbers one through ten in a hands-on way. Other tactile items that teach math understanding are also part of this area.
- Cultural Studies Area: Cultural studies teach children about the world around them. Our preschool classrooms have areas dedicated to art, music, science, history, geography, and culture. Globes, flags, maps, art materials, and even live plants are part of this area.
- Practical Life Area: At Kinder Prep, we believe preschool children can learn to take care of themselves and their environments. The practical life skills area helps with that. Child-sized tables, eating utensils, cleaning supplies, and even cutlery are all part of this area.
Open Design Encourages Freedom to Learn
When you walk into a Kinder Prep classroom or look at the pictures in our gallery, you will notice that there are not a lot of walls and barriers. Much of the classroom is open, with only those barriers necessary for the safety of very young children in the nursery. Students have the freedom to explore the various areas as they wish. They choose their own learning experiences with the oversight of the teacher.
