The Curriculum
The work process involves attaining and refining skills, tastes, developing sensitivity, strengthening concentration, solving problems, and achieving new insights.
Rolling Hills Montessori offers pre-primary and kindergarten. The pre-primary classrooms are arranged with children of multi-ages. In this setting, the children learn from one another. The younger children are introduced to what they will be learning and instinctively 'look up' to the older children in the class. The older children love the responsibility given to them in sharing their knowledge, as they themselves continue to grow with the curriculum.
The educational program is broken up into five categories:-
In Practical Life, the children learn to become more independent and maintain a respect for themselves and the environment around them.
In Sensorial, all the five senses are employed in learning to differentiate between colors, forms, textures, sounds, odors and tastes. The academic program in Language includes phonetically based materials for reading, writing, and oral articulation. In Math, tangible symbolic materials with built-in error control lead the child to abstractions. The Cultural studies incorporate art, history, zoology, botany and geography. The children use puzzle maps to learn the seven continents and study cultural items from various countries. There are unit studies on the solar system, weather, seasons, the human body, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, time lines, and many other subjects.
Field trips are planned throughout the year and mirror the cultural activities introduced in the classrooms. We also have the children present their ancestry, traditions, and encourage parents to participate! Our annual International Festival is a unit study involving each classroom learning about a particular country chosen by the teacher. This turns into a memorable presentation of the country's native dance, songs, and the children sharing their classrooms which they have transformed into 'national exhibitions'.
Spanish, Chinese and music instruction are offered within the curriculum. Extracurricular classes of violin, yoga, drama, vocal, keyboarding and art are also available.
Gardening and cooking form part of our practical life along with the joy of caring for reptiles, fish, and other animals.
A professionally trained and credentialed Montessori Head Teacher is in each class, accompanied by a full time Teacher's Assistant. We offer both 5 full day (9:00 – 3:00), and 5 half day (9:00 – 12:00) programs. Extended childcare is also available from 7:30 – 6:00 at an additional cost. Lunch time is 11:30 – 12:00. Nap time is optional for pre-primary and offered at 1:00 – 2:30. A snack is provided during the day. Each classroom has a microwave available for heating up lunches.