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Kindergarten – Children’s House Bilingual Montessori Program
Children's House Program (3-6 years)
A child that
is respected and treated as a competent young person will grow into
an adult with a far greater sense of emotional well being and will
more readily do things for themselves than a child that is simply
loved and has everything done for them. Maria Montessori promoted
this idea in schools developing a system where children are treated
as capable, independent human beings.
Daystar's
Children’s House children who are developing themselves learn how
to button buttons, pour liquids, write and read letters and words, in
both English and Chinese, and calculate sums. A Montessori
classroom reflects the culture in which it resides and children are
able to explore this through a variety of culturally based materials.
There are basic ground rules in a Montessori classroom about behavior
and tidiness but beyond this children are free to choose whatever
activity they wish and work with it for as long as they want. They
are free to move about the classroom, working independently or in
groups. Many children choose work that sparks their interest and
teachers provide checks and balances to ensure that the children are
challenged and give keys to new ideas for inquiry. Children manage
their own community, they develop independence and a strong sense of
self – discipline. When you enter a Montessori classroom you will
notice an organized and orderly environment with shelves of materials
and children busy at work. Some will be at tables, some on mats on
the floors, some will be working independently, some in groups and
some with the teachers.
At Daystar
children receive daily lessons from the teachers in one of the areas
of the classroom (Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics,
Culture). These lessons are usually given one-to-one or in small
groups. The children also receive daily Chinese lessons, virtues
lessons and Chinese culture lessons. Otherwise the children are
welcome to choose work that they have been shown off the shelf and
return it when they are finished. Subjects are integrated, meaning
while one child washes a table, another will be reading phonetic
cards, while another labels a map of the world and a small group
completes an addition equation. Children requiring help acquiring a
second language will be given specific lessons to do so.
Furthermore, our Montessori classrooms are self-contained functioning
communities. For example, children make their own snack, wash and
iron linens after they dirty them so they are ready for the next
person, prep their own science experiments and clean up their own
spills. As a guest, you will be welcomed into their community and
witness children acting as hosts as it is their space. While the
children are in the Montessori environment it is their time,
protected and free of requirements or demands of the world outside,
giving them as much time as possible to develop deep concentration
and love for the classroom, the work and the ideas.
Our
integrated bilingual Montessori classroom at Daystar will give your
child a gift that will last their lifetime: a strong foundation in a
love of learning, self-discipline, self-motivation and independence.
Reception Program (5-6 years)
Our reception class will accept children ages five and six with no Montessori experience and a desire to enter Daystar’s Elementary program beginning in grade one. The reception class has been designed specifically for children entering a Montessori elementary school at the relatively late age of 5 years old. It provides opportunity for a child to work diligently to gain some foundation work that is required when entering a Montessori elementary class. If your child has prior Montessori experience then continuing in a Children’s House 3-6 program is most beneficial.
In this class each day will consist of a Montessori 3 hour work cycle in the morning where each child will receive lessons in all areas of a Montessori classroom (Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics and Culture) as well as key language lessons for ESL and CSL children. The afternoon will include theme based group lessons and higher-level inquiry group work. Throughout the day the children will receive lessons from the Chinese Kindergarten curriculum as well as Virtues based Character Education.
The integrated bilingual reception classroom will endeavor to provide balanced bilingual education through the lens of Montessori education and traditional Chinese Kindergarten programming. Our staff of one Montessori educator, one Chinese Kindergarten teacher, one English language specialist and one Chinese language specialist will work tirelessly to ensure your child’s keen understanding and encouraged excitement of learning in this new way.