Curriculum

Montessori Philosophy

The Montessori Approach developed throughout the fascinating life of Maria Montessori. She spent many years observing and working with children. In the early years she observed children with learning disabilities and she came to the conclusion that if children are exposed to a correct of stimuli environment can naturally learn. In the process, she built on some of the ideas of others who had worked with children and she developed and refined her own ideas, materials and methods. She developed an encouraging, stimulating program where children could learn the skills they needed to eventually become responsible, productive, independent and loving citizens of the world. Montessori Schools and programs are found all over the world and her work has influenced early childhood education at every level.

Why Montessori

At Great Minds ECC we follow the Montessori Approach as we strongly believe that children are inherently good and if they are exposed to correct and full of stimuli environment they flourish. Our aim is to have happy, independent and confident children who will easily adjust and succeed in any environment, later in life. Therefore we have created an environment that promotes all areas of learning:

We promote personal, social and emotional development through practical life skills, cultural activities and role modelling.

We target on communication, language and literacy through literacy activities and story telling in a language rich environment.

We improve problem solving, reasoning and numeracy through sensorial and counting.

We support understanding of the world through culture and sensorial activities and environmental exploration.

We focus on the physical development through indoor and outdoor activities.

We enhance creative environment through art, craft, music, movement, drama and spontaneous play.

Areas of Learning

Sensorial

The sensorial cabinet includes materials which help children develop, broaden and refine their five senses (Sight, Hearing, Taste, Touch and Smell). These materials are specifically designed to help the child develop discrimination and order in their environment

Practical Life

The purpose of Practical Life is to help children gain control in the coordination of their movement, gain experience and adjust to their society. The exercises in Practical Life provide purposeful activity and develop independence, concentration and responsibility.

Language

The Montessori classroom is designed in such way that all the activities promote the development of skills required for oral and written language and reading. In the language area precise names are used for all the objects and vocabulary classifications and matching exercises enrich vocabulary.

Mathematics

Learning mathematical concepts in a Montessori classroom begins concretely and progresses towards the abstract. They are developed from simple to complex. Order, coordination, concentration and independence are experienced by the child using these materials.

Cultural

In the Montessori classroom, the Cultural Area covers a variety of subjects such as Geography, Science, Botany, Zoology and History. Maria Montessori believed that knowledge of such subjects is what makes a person cultured.