Infants learn by touching, tasting, and moving in their surroundings. Supporting their freedom to move and explore is essential to infant development. Whether they are touching textured materials, exploring the secrets of a mirror, or trying to imitate basic sign language, infants are learning through independence of movement.
Goodester’s Montessori curriculum supports infants learning through independence of movement. It is designed to stimulate the achievement of milestones. Each lesson leads to the next.
For example, in his or her first lesson, the child may drop an object into an open bucket and listen to the sound that it makes. Next, the child may drop spindles into a container with a large opening, learning to drop an object to a place of his or her choice. The next the teacher may encourage the child to drop a straw through a small opening of a closed container. These activities are simple. Yet they powerfully stimulate the infant’s intellect.
We support our infants’ physical development through activities like tummy time, working on rolling over, and encouraging infants to sit up and reach for objects. We also incorporate art and music through activities like finger painting and shaking maracas to beats. Our infants get to explore nature through walks and time on blankets outdoors.
We encourage you to schedule a visit, speak with the teachers, and gain an insight into Goodester’s infant program. You will be taking the first step to making your child stand out as an adult in society.
Explore, explore, explore……. We encourage curiosity to learn.
At this age, children learn using their bodies, senses, and their emerging problem-solving skills to learn about their world. Toddlers constantly look for answers in their surroundings, absorb information rapidly and easily, and love to show off their independence to their peers and adults. This is the age of sensory exploration.
Maria Montessori, who first taught using the Montessori Method, recognized that the first few years of a child’s life are most important in the development of their individual personality and intellectual ability.
Prepared Environment
Children’s House, commonly known in the childcare industry as Preschool Classroom, admits children aged 3-6 years. At Goodester, we clearly organize the Montessori curriculum. There are little corners for children to read; to work on lessons; and to relax. This beautiful environment that is uniquely structured and organized for children is traditionally known as a “Children’s House” in Montessori circles.
The Montessori Teacher
The Montessori Teacher is known as a “Guide” and is an inconspicuous, yet discreetly influential, part of the classroom. Montessori teachers guide and observe children while creating a calm, structured, and happy environment. The Guide knows when to intervene to help or to further challenge the child, and more importantly, when to step back and let the child independently complete the learning process. Because the Guide is a constant in the child’s life for up to three years, the Guide is well aware of the child’s personality, interests, and learning style.
Montessori Guide’s job extends further. Using specially designed software called Montessori Workspace,the Guides record your child’s progress in each learning area. Guides will present and discuss this information with you at the parent teacher conferences so that you understand what your child is learning.
Mixed Age Setting — Learning From Each Other
In the Children’s House classrooms, you will see three, four, five, and six-year olds sharing the same learning environment. This mixed age setting-unique to Montessori-creates a nurturing environment where children learn from each other. Younger children are eager to learn and to gain insight by watching older children working on lessons. The older children reinforce their knowledge, act as role models, and develop leadership skills by guiding younger children.
Children learn to respect and to work with others who have different abilities and interests. Children also learn to share, to be kind, and to help others by watching other children in the classroom community.
Montessori Curriculum
Pre-School and Kindergarten age children are quick to absorb from their environment. Dr. Montessori named this quality “the absorbent mind”. Our comprehensive Montessori curriculum supports the child’s natural drive to independently explore and learn about their world.
At Goodester, we use interdisciplinary and interactive curricula and materials to foster the natural curiosity of children in this age group. Our toddlers engage in practical life lessons such as pouring, sorting, matching, and cooking. Toddlers also begin pre-reading activities, vocabulary building, counting, music lessons, singing and playing rhythm instruments, as well as art projects and basic Spanish.
At Goodester, we make the child the center of the classroom; all classroom materials are scaled for a child’s exploration and toddlers are encouraged to choose activities of their interest, rather than teacher’s interests. The Montessori classroom establishes an engaging and structured routine that fosters habits of concentration, initiative, and persistence.
We know that transitioning from an infant room environment to toddler environment is not easy for child or the teacher. That is why we have a Transition Room. Depending on your infant’s skills and level of independence, we plan an appropriate transition time for your child. This makes transitioning into the toddler environment much easier for the child.
