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Palmetto Montessori School is divided into age groups. They are...
At Palmetto Montessori School, we feature three different levels of Montessori Education: Toddler, Primary, and a Lower and Upper Elementary Program.
At this point in a child’s development, they have moved from the unconcious mind to the concious mind. Children go through sensitive periods where they learn language, movement, and order faster than any other point in their life. Toddlers are given the opportunities to work in the development of language skill, art, music sensorial and practical life. In the toddler program, practical life activities are particularly emphasized as they give children the chance to develop skills to care for themselves and their environment.
Children in the primary program possess what Dr. Montessori called the absorbent mind, the ability to absorb all aspects of one's culture and environment without effort or fatigue. As an aid to this period of the child's self-construction, individual work is encouraged.
Practical Life Exercises instill care for self, for others, and for the environment. Activities include many of the tasks children see as part of the daily routine in their home, such as preparing food and washing dishes, along with exercises of grace and courtesy. Through these tasks, children develop muscular coordination, enabling movement and the exploration of their surroundings. They learn to work at a task from beginning to end, and develop their powers of control and concentrations.
Sensorial Materials serve as tools for development. Children build cognitive skills, and learn to order and classify impressions by touching, seeing, smelling, tasting, listening, and exploring the physical properties of their environment.
Mathematics activities help children learn and understand the concepts of math by manipulating concrete materials. This work gives children a solid understanding of basic mathematical principles, prepares them for later abstract reasoning, and helps to develop problem-solving capabilities.
Language Development is vital to human development. The Montessori environment is rich in oral language opportunities, allowing the child to experience conversations, stories and poetry. The sandpaper letters help children link sound and symbol effortlessly, encouraging the development of written expression and reading skills. To further reading development, children are exposed to the study of grammar.
Culture studies include Geography, Biology, Botany, Zoology, Art and Music. These subjects are presented as extensions of the sensorial and language activities. Children learn about people and cultures in other countries with an attitude of respect and admiration. Through familiarity, children come to feel connected to the global human family. Lessons and experiences with nature inspire a reverence for all life.
 
The Montessori education extends well beyond the early childhood and preschool years with the opportunity to continue into the elementary years. In the Montessori Elementary class, the child’s own questions provide the basis for the exploration of the world. Because these questions are listened to and nurtured, the child really connects with knowledge. The elementary environment balances the child’s developing imagination and powers of abstraction with hands-on materials. Mathematics is presented through three dimensional, manipulative materials that reveal arithmetic, geometric, and algebraic correlations. The grammar materials use symbols and visual patterns to help the child discover parts of speech and analyze the structure, style, and logic of sentences. The materials for geometry, zoology, and geography present the groundwork for future in-depth study. Foreign languages in Spanish and French are taught twice a week, and German is taught daily. The multi-age groupings enhance the learning experience as the youngest children are stimulated from the older children’s activities. The older children reinforce their knowledge by “teaching” the younger ones. The older children provide leadership, reliable, friendships, and learning which same age peers don’t always provide.
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