Richmond Montessori School enrolls children between two to six years of age and provides a multi-age learning environment. A mixed-age group provides opportunities for peer learning/teaching and fosters social development and responsibility.

Our classroom is designed to encourage children to work at their own pace, while using scientifically designed Montessori materials. This enables the child to correct themselves with the help of built in control of error within each material, allowing the child to explore and perfect their own work.

Children are guided to work with the material until a level of competence is reached. This, in itself, is an evaluation of the child's ability. Each child is taught individually, giving the teachers immediate insight into the child's grasp of every concept taught.

The school will operate from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday. The school will be closed for two weeks during the Christmas break, as well as two weeks during the summer break. As well, school will be closed on all Statutory and Civic holidays, including Easter Monday.

Our Values

• Safety and security in a nurturing environment
• Honesty and integrity in our relationships with others
• Peace, respect, and cooperation throughout our classroom and within the community
• Respect and awareness for the environment
• Compassion, patience, generosity, tolerance and joyfulness within the classroom community and beyond
• Instill creativity and harness on individual identity
• Striving for excellence in everything we do

Curriculum

The Montessori classroom is a child-sized world. The prepared environment invites your child to be an active sensorial explorer. The keys to knowledge are offered through scientifically designed materials and presentations. The prepared environment entices your child to progress at his or her own pace starting from simple to more complex activities. Through this special learning process, your child's curiosity is satisfied, as he or she begins to experience the joy of discovering the world around them.

Exercises Of Practical Life

Practical life activities provide the foundation for all other activities in the Montessori classroom, fulfilling your child's need to be independent. By engaging in purposeful activities children learn to take care of themselves, others and the environment helping them to develop respect, patience, self-confidence and independence. These activities involve tasks such as pouring, spooning, cleaning up after themselves, dressing and practicing grace and courtesy.

Sensorial Activities

Sensorial materials were designed to refine the child's sense of discrimination. These materials with their carefully outlined exercises help your child to sequence, discriminate, order and categorize their impressions and experiences, equipping them the opportunity to materialize abstractions on their own. The children enjoy working with the sensorial material repeatedly and soon develop their own variations on the lessons originally presented to them.

Language Activities

The learning of language is truly a child's most remarkable intellectual achievement. The language materials are further complemented with activities empowering your child to develop effective communication skills. Montessori’s tenacious focus upon enriching vocabulary enhances your child’s ability in writing and reading readiness. In a Montessori learning environment, profound emphasis is placed on the process of acquiring language skills essentially through listening, writing and reading.

Mathematics Activities

The mathematics activities involve counting and understanding number relationships and concepts, with an overview of the functions of the decimal system. The materials provided in the mathematics and sensorial areas outlines and lays the groundwork for future learning of more advanced mathematics concepts. This prepares your child for an abstract understanding of sound reasoning and developing problem-solving capabilities.

Cultural Activities

The cultural lessons (geography, botany, zoology, history, science, music, art, and nature study) make the classroom vibrant, enthusing your child to feel connected to the global human family. These cultural themes instill creativity and expand your child’s limitless imagination with a reflection of the universe in totality.

Kinder Music - Music & Movement

Our music program introduces the children to the language of music and gives them an opportunity to express music coherently in a collaborative and encouraging environment. Children participate in singing, storytelling, dancing, movement, and instrument activities not only highlight their musical development but could further refine their developmental needs in social interaction, impulse control, spatial awareness and focused listening.

Healthy Snack Program

A healthy and balanced snack is provided at the school. The snack program is carefully planned and selected to ensure they are safe for all children attending the school. The Snack Menu for the month is posted on the bulletin board for your information.

Summer Program

Our Summer Program will be available at an additional cost.

“The environment must be rich in motives which lend interest to activity and invite the child to conduct his own experiences.”

Dr. Maria Montessori