562-682-3492
930 Elm Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813
Located at the former St. Mary's Child Care Center
Infant Care License # 198011975 - Preschool / Kindergarten License# 198011974 Elementary / Private Affidavit.
OUR MISSION
We seek to provide a stimulating, age-appropriate academic program for infants and children up to 6 years of age in a warm, loving, caring and safe environment…
…an environment that instills in each child the confidence to believe in themselves.
Montessori on Elm Toddler Curriculum Overview
The goal of our Montessori Pre-Primary Toddler Program is to provide children one to two years of age with experiences which will enhance their confidence, independence and skill level so that they are essentially comfortable when entering the larger and more complex primary program.
The Montessori curriculum for toddlers consists of a variety of Preliminary exercises in Practical Life Lessons, Sensorial and Language activities. Other areas of the curriculum such as Mathematics and Cultural Studies are introduced; however in depth study occurs among the older age groups beginning at the Primary Level. The Montessori Guide is keenly aware of the importance of movement, order and language in the young Toddler’s development. The environment created reflects this knowledge and is alive with the Montessori philosophy of “Follow the Child”.
Montessori on Elm Preschool Montessori Curriculum Overview
The Montessori Preschool classroom for ages 3 through 6 years old is a “living room” for children. Children choose their work from among the self-correcting materials displayed on open shelves and placed in specific work areas. The Montessori child moves from being undisciplined to self-disciplined, from disordered to ordered, from “distracted” to “focused” through work in the prepared environment. This process occurs through repeated work with materials that captivate the child’s attention. The following five distinct areas constitute the prepared environment:
Practical Life enhances the development of task organization and cognitive order through care of self, care of the environment, exercises of grace and courtesy and coordination of physical movement.
The Sensorial area enables the child to order, classify and describe sensory impressions in relation to length width, temperature, color, mass, pitch, etc.
Mathematics makes use of manipulative materials to enable the child to internalize concepts of number, symbol, sequence, operation and memorization of basic facts.
Language Arts includes oral language development, written expression, reading, the study of grammar, creative dramatics and children’s literature. Basic skills in reading and writing are developed through the use of sandpaper letters, alphabet cut-outs and various presentations allowing children to link sounds and letter symbols effortlessly and to express their thoughts through writing.
Cultural Activities expose the child to basics in geography, history and life sciences. Music, art and movement education are also part of the integrated Montessori cultural curriculum.
Montessori on Elm Guide to the Elementary Montessori Curriculum
Montessori schools have mixed-aged elementary classes for 6 to 12 year old children. Children ages 6 to 9 (1st through 3rd grades) learn together in a lower elementary community. The Montessori elementary curriculum offers wide ranging lessons that awaken interest and encourage independent exploration. Lessons with the elementary Montessori materials offer children “keys to the universe”. As children develop independently into their personal interests, the teacher provides encouragement and guidance.
Elementary Math and Geometry
The Montessori mathematics program at the elementary level is designed to awaken both imaginative and analytic musings of the reasoning mind. Children use beautiful, hands on materials as they work toward a precise understanding of the vocabulary of math, arithmetic, place value and algorithms of the four operations. As students acquire precision, vocabulary and the ability to discover patterns, they move naturally to abstract work on paper exploring patterns and algorithms of squaring and cubing, standard and metric measurement, ratio and proportion, factors, multiples and divisors, fractions, decimals and percents and problem solving strategies.
Elementary Cultural Studies: Science and Social Studies
Science and social studies in elementary classrooms are taught as interdisciplinary subjects. Earth science, physical science, astronomy, geography, biology and history are intricately interwoven in the elementary Montessori cultural studies Science and social studies not only inspires students to take on research projects, they help children develop observation capacities and skills in measuring, recording and describing. The lessons also encourage respect and love for the natural environment. A study of the development of life on the earth over the eons ties together the science, history and geography curricula. Biology, geology, mineralogy, meteorology, astronomy, chemistry and elementary physics are explored in the context of learning about the geological history of the world. The biology curriculum is a focus of great energy and enthusiasm in elementary Montessori classrooms.
Elementary Language Arts
Elementary age children develop composition skills through a sequence of writing exercises and through extensive exploration of grammar and the functions of words. Montessori elementary children typically write everyday, composing short stories, poems, plays, reports and news articles. By age nine, research skills and the preparation of reports are major components of the language arts program. Students prepare both formal and informal written and oral reports and have opportunities to develop persuasive speaking and writing skills in context as they take on advocacy projects of interest to them in the classroom, the school and the community.
