The Stepping Stones Classroom
The classroom area is thoughtfully arranged and offers an inviting space for activity that is focused and calm.
Learning materials are displayed on shelves that are accessible to the children to foster independence as the students go about their daily work. There are areas in the classroom that allow for group activity as well as areas where the student can work alone. Parts of the classroom are open and spacious.
There are well-defined spaces for each part of the curriculum, such as Language Arts, Math, and Practical Life. Each of these areas features shelves or display tables with a variety of inviting materials from which students can choose.
Classroom spaces are purposefully designed, and materials carefully curated in pursuit of an education partnership. Multi-aged classrooms provide benefits that are readily apparent when visiting the classroom. Younger children in the classroom have an opportunity to observe and imitate the older students as they work. Older students have an opportunity to reinforce their own knowledge by explaining what they are doing and assisting and mentoring younger children. Each child can learn and develop at his own pace within a classroom that accommodates many levels of ability and complexity.
Areas of Learning
Practical Life
For young children there is something special about tasks which an adult considers ordinary; washing dishes, preparing vegetables, polishing shoes, etc. They are considered exciting to children because they allow them to imitate adults. Imitation is one of the strongest urges during a child’s early years. In this area of the classroom, children perfect their coordination and become absorbed in an activity. They gradually lengthen their span of concentration. They also learn to pay attention to details as they follow a regular sequence of actions. Finally, they learn good working habits as they finish each task and put away all the materials before beginning another activity.
Mathematics
Dr. Montessori demonstrated that if children have access to mathematical equipment in their early years, they can easily and joyfully assimilate many facts and skills of arithmetic. On the other hand, these same facts and skills may require long hours of drudgery and drill if they are introduced to them later in the abstract form. Dr. Montessori designed concrete materials to represent all types of quantities. Later she observed that children who become interested in counting, like to touch or move the items as they enumerate them. By combining the equipment, separating it, sharing it, counting it, and comparing it, they can demonstrate to themselves the basic operations of mathematics. Children in a Montessori class never sit to memorise addition and subtraction facts. Rather they learn these facts by performing the operations with concrete materials.
History
Montessori offers the children a concrete presentation of history by letting them work with Timelines. Timelines are very long strips of paper which can be unrolled and stretched along the floor of the classroom. As an introduction to the idea of history, the children begin by making a timeline of their own lives, starting with their baby pictures. Other activities will include how they start and finish their day, giving the child a concrete understanding of the past, present and future concepts.
Sensorial
The sensorial materials in the Montessori classroom help children to distinguish, to categorise, and to relate new information to what they already know. Dr. Montessori believed that this process is the beginning of conscious knowledge. It is brought about by the intelligence working in a concentrated way on the impressions given by the senses.
Geography
The large wooden puzzle maps are among the most popular activities in the classroom. At first the children use the maps simply as puzzles and then they gradually learn the names of many of the countries. The children will learn about many countries in the world, the culture in the country as well as the natural features of the countries.
Cultural Awareness
In Malawi we are blessed to be in an environment that comprises many different nationalities and by evaluating the origins of these differences the children can explore various countries, their customs, food, music, climate, language and animals.
Cooking and Nutrition
The children study the basic food groups and learn what their bodies need in order to be healthy. Baking and fun cooking classes are also incorporated into the curriculum.
Language
In a Montessori classroom, children learn the phonetic sounds of the letters before they learn the alphabetical names in a sequence. The phonetic sounds are given first because these are the sounds they hear in words that they need to be able to read. The children first become aware of these phonetic sounds when the teacher introduces the consonants with the Sandpaper Letters.
Science and Nature
In science, the children’s innate curiosity is stimulated through discovery projects and experiments which help the children to draw their own natural conclusions. The plant and animal kingdoms are studied in an orderly fashion to foster the love and appreciation for all living things. Stepping Stones is fortunate to have space to look after and nurture a few small animals. The children will then learn how to care for them and be responsible for animals.
Empower Your Child's Potential Today
Ready to embark on an educational journey that celebrates kindness, creativity, emotional intelligence, and innovation? Join the Stepping Stones Montessori family and discover the difference for yourself.
Our Physical Address
Nyambadwe, Blantyre, Malawi.
Useful Links
Contact Details
+265 998 596 788
info@steppingstonesmontessorimw.com