The classroom and its contents are spatially designed to meet the external and internal needs of children. All materials used are safe, beautiful and real; supporting the independent discovery of the child who is learning how to learn. Here, the classroom is a children’s house where the child feels at home in any one of the five main areas of the room.
The Practical Life Area is where children learn the intricacies used to care for oneself, one’s possessions, and one’s environment while developing graceful physical and social skills that show respect for oneself, others and the environment.
The Sensorial Area of the classroom contains materials promoting visual, aural and tactile perception.
The Art Center is placed between the practical life and the language and math areas. It indirectly connects perceptual art, to art as found in domestic crafts and industrial design.
The Language Area contains the tactile foundation for writing and reading. The first exposure to writing is presented after the physical preparation found in the sensorial area. As the child explores the shapes and sounds of the sandpaper letters, the natural tendency to combine the learned sounds into a word takes place. Thus the skill of true reading begins. It is in this area that exploration is enhanced with words. Words, words, and more words—young children cannot get enough of them. This area contains materials introducing the vocabulary for such subjects as music (a real instrument), French, geography, cultural and natural history (Dinosaurs!).
The Math and Science Area has a link to the sensorial materials the children manipulate on a daily basis. Tactile materials for mathematics are varied and plentiful. The science curriculum covers developmentally appropriate material to begin exploring and learning words of living and non-living things studied in the natural and physical sciences.
At Medina Montessori the curriculum is enhanced by an interactive French program and a creative-art center.
A real garden plot for the children to plan, plant & harvest was built in the Spring of 2000.
In 2003, an outdoor wood-working bench was added to the scope of practical life.
At Medina Montessori, there is always a balance between freedom and responsibility. The learning is inspired by free choice of visually attractive materials. The discipline is learned from within the child as modeled by the teacher using the simple precept of respect for oneself, others and the environment. All this is achieved in a tranquil, yet fun setting for the child. Choice of work, use of hands, and repetition of the work awaken the intellect, giving birth to concentration—a foundation for life-long learning.
