LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

For more than 100 years Montessori-based activities have been effectively used as a system of synthetic phonics. The three year old child is introduced to this phonics program through the marvelous “sandpaper letter” material. It is the “absorbing” of the combined sounds and symbols through three senses that makes this program effective.

The four year old child graduates into cursive writing, only to be followed by reading. The child’s ability to read is built on a strong foundation of phonemic awareness. Fairport Montessori Academy offers an extensive language program which includes the development of oral language, written expression, reading, the study of grammar, creative dramatics, as well as children’s literature.

MATHEMATICS

Within our prepared environment, children will develop the natural ability to count and calculate. Our program begins by providing a representation of numbers prior to being shown a number symbol. Children will learn mathematical concepts such as numbers quantities, symbols, sequences, operations, and the memorization of basic facts.

FINE ARTS

We believe the arts are an essential part of every educational environment. Fairport Montessori Academy promotes Fine Arts in our classroom on a daily basis. In addition, we regularly welcome guest artists into our class. A wide variety of local community artists perform to the children during classroom work time and events.

CULTURE

All of our children are exposed to our sensory-based cultural materials that bring to life various plants, animals, and people from all over the world. The child begins to learn about the world as a whole, then has an opportunity to explore the flora, fauna and human culture of each continent. As part of an integrated cultural curriculum children are also exposed to music, art and movement on a daily basis.

PRACTICAL LIFE

This is one of the first areas of the classroom that children are introduced to at Fairport Montessori Academy. Many students may have already taken part in or observed these activities in their home environment. Buttoning, pouring, scrubbing a table, and polishing are some of the activities that will help create a bridge between home and school. These activities allow children to gain a sense of independence, and are especially useful in developing concentration and coordination skills.

SENSORY DEVELOPMENT

As pre-school age children predominantly learn through touch, we use sensorial materials as educational tools. These tools allow children to classify, organize, and describe objects by their relative mass, length, width, temperature, colour, pitch, etc. By isolating a material for its singular quality, these activities prepare the child for mathematical concepts.