"The first duty of an education is to stir up life, but leave it free to develop. " 

- Maria Montessori

 

 

Upward Bound Montessori School offers both Toddler and Pre-K programs.  Both programs focus on the four areas of Learning in Montessori:

Sensorial
Activities in this section allow the child to refine each of his senses. He will become a child who can appreciate color or texture differences, organize his thoughts and objects in his environment and who has a refined sense of pitch from the music he may hear around him.

Language
The child is taught language through a specific progression of lessons where he first becomes aware of the different sounds in a word. The child then learns the language phonetically until the point where he is taught the different “rules” in a given language and the exceptions to those rules he will need to know in order to spell and read fluently.

 

Mathematics
The child first learns to count from 1-10 through the understanding of the concept that those numbers represent a specific amount.  Through each material, the child will learn addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and truly understand what each one means in their deeper sense. Through this method of teaching, Montessori offers the child a strong and solid foundation in the understanding of mathematics.

Cultural Activities
Activities in this area includes Geography, History, Life Science, Music and Art.

Practical Life
In this section of work, the child finds materials and Exercises of his every day life from pouring water from a jug to a glass, or learning how to tie a shoelace. These activities help the child to properly take care of himself so that he may feel as though he is independent and does not have to rely on an adult for his basic needs.

Overall, what makes this method of learning so different compared to the conventional form of education we have today, is that the teacher does not stand in front of the class and teach each child the same lesson all at once. Each child is allowed to learn at his own pace in a way where he feels as though he is in fact not learning or being taught.

Montessori called this way of teaching “preparing the child for success”.  The teacher is there to guide the child through small Exercises in which the child will succeed. Through time, the Exercises rise in difficulty but because the progression is so well thought out, the child never feels as though learning is a struggle.

 

A Day at Upward Bound Montessori

Montessori school is well-known for individualized learning.  In Upward Bound Montessori School, we do nothing less.  Each child works through the curriculum independently, at his or her own pace.  The following is an approximate overview of our daily schedules:

 

7:00                Arrival, Play (indoor/outdoor) or choice time

 

8:30                Circle Time

 

9:00 - 11:00   Work Period (individual and small group lessons)

                       A short break period is also offered during this time

                       for the morning snack.

 

11:00 - 12:00 Lunch, Transition time for Napping

 

12:00 - 2:00   Nap time

 

2:00 - 4:30     Enrichment period

                       Children are offered to work on arts and crafts

                       activities, they may continue also some work period

                       done in the morning.  A group reading period, music

                       and movement (kid's yoga) activities are also included

                       during this time.

 

4:30 - 6:00     Playtime/Dismissal

                       Includes playtime (indoor/outdoor), transitional toys

                       and parents pick-up.  Note that parents may pick-up

                       their child anytime