Self-Learning Pre School
The 2.5 to 6 year age is the most crucial age for aiding the child in becoming a complete human being. This is the age when the children are acclimatizing to the world and developing a keen understanding of their purpose. These are the children whose imagination knows no bounds and whose energies are tireless. These bundles of exuberance need space and time to map out their own explorations. The Primary Environment at Blue Blocks does just that.
Areas of development
Sensorial Development
We may have five sense organs but we are ruled by 10 senses. While we talk about the senses of touch, sight, taste, smell, hearing, we take all other senses for granted as part of growing up. These are the senses that allow children to discover different weights of objects, sense of temperatures- hot or cold, muscular sense that enables you to take the right step even when there is a power cut, and the sterogeonistic sense that helps you search for an object in a bag without looking. The SI environment helps children develop all these life senses as well.
Language Development
Children can learn up to seven languages in the first six years of their lives. Spoken language introduced in the Toddler Environment allows them to communicate but they are now eager to express themselves in the written word. We encourage them without stressing too much on spellings and format. We give them the chance to develop the need to write on their own and only guide them when necessary.
In writing they express their own thoughts, but in reading they are trying to understand someone else’s words. We introduce reading to children in three stages where they first mechanically read the word, then they read and interpret the word and lastly they appreciate the language, style and story behind what they read.
Math
Children are exposed to math even before they or we realize it. Like when they are told they have one sister or two grandmothers. Math came into being when people realized there is one of something and then there is more than one of something. This knowledge is ingrained in the human DNA so child is already programmed to understand math. Math is an abstract form of learning which Montessori makes concrete for early education. A wood bar labeled 1 is small and will fit into the child’s palm, but a bar labeled 9 is longer and heavier so the child knows 9 is many times bigger than 1. Using these concrete objects Montessori introduces arithmetic, decimal system, fractions and slowly moves the child from concrete to abstract and more complex aspects of Math.
Culture
Culture education is not based on religion or ethnicity but on the physical aspects of the world like land, region, language, plants, animals, music, and art. By introducing these concepts to the child at an early age, Montessori aims to make them aware and sensitive to their surroundings. The children here learn of land and water masses, countries and flags in Geography; they learn about the different animals by viewing them from physical, social and functional points of view in Zoology. Biology deals with the various plants and their utility; Geometry engages the children through shapes and sizes; Arts like drawing, painting are early communication tools while music and writing help the child develop confidence and connect with the rest of the society and their recreations.
Practical Life Skills
What the children see around them is what they learn and whatever they learn is what they need in life too. They see their mother folding clothes or father filling water bottles and they want to do the same so they feel like they belong to the family unit. At Blue Blocks we encourage children to learn to do these essential life skills and introduce them under the heads of: Care for Self where they learn to tie shoe laces and button their shirts; Care for Environment where they learn to water plants, clean up after themselves; Social Behaviour where they learn to be courteous and polite and greet everyone pleasantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is different from traditional pre-school?
Montessori learning is entirely based on the children learning through five senses, learning on their own and at their own individual pace. It does not have textbook learning but learning through materials.
Are Montessori children able to transition to traditional school?
Yes they can readily join traditional school in grade 1 after our Primary program.
