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OUR PROGRAMS

“The goal of early childhood education should be to cultivate the child’s own natural desire to learn” -Dr. Maria Montessori

What Does Montessori Mean for the Child?

Montessori education has an international reputation and influence. It is a holistic approach: it develops and educates the whole child, physically, intellectually, socially and emotionally.

Montessori is child centred: each child progresses at his or her own pace, not pressured to achieve and encouraged to follow his/her own path of development. It offers a unique combination of highly structured curriculum and the freedom for the child to choose his/her own activities. Because they have a choice, Montessori children become enthusiastic learners.

Emphasis is placed on developing children’s creative imagination through art, craft and drama.

At Bayside Montessori we offer a music program, a creative dance program and a French program. Our school is geared for children from 2.5 or 3 years of age with the expectation that they remain with us for the next three years-as a replacement to kindergarten. We offer five half day or five full day programs with snacks and lunch provided by the school.

Children are accepted upon the basis of an interview and interaction in one of our classrooms. Our Montessori teachers hold university degrees and/or college degrees and/or Montessori diplomas.

Art/Crafts

The students of Bayside Montessori are provided with various materials and encouraged to try different media and create their own masterpieces. Seasonal crafts and other activities that tie in with our units of study are a part of our school curriculum.

Cultural

The study of geography begins in the class with the use of large puzzle maps and simple globes. Dr. Montessori emphasized the study of geography because it is a subject area important to everyday life. Older students continue their study of geography through independent projects on peoples, countries and cultures. The study of history ...

French

We will be using the Accelerated Integrated Methodology (AIM) to introduce our students to French. AIM brings true transformation to the experience of teaching and learning languages. Teachers use hand gestures, every day items found in our classroom and repetition to encourage our students to speak French. The AIM philosophy aligns beautifully with many of ...

Language

The language program stimulates self-expression and confidence. Through a phonetic approach, a firm basis in spelling and reading is developed. Thorough training in grammar skills begins at the age of five years. Because of these acquired skills, reading becomes effortless and pleasurable.

Mathematics

Math has been a stumbling block for some children, not because of its nature, but because of the way it is presented to the child. Montessori materials allow the child to see concretely, instead of abstractly, the quantity and later the function he/she is performing. This hands-on-approach allows the child to experience rather than memorize ...

Music & Movement

The Music and Movement class is beneficial to our student’s development in balance, coordination, self esteem and body awareness. Our students are given the opportunity to express themselves through dance and movement to different styles of music. Songs, finger plays and stories are presented to our students under the direction of our music specialist. Musical ...

Nutrition

Snack is provided in the morning and afternoon. All snack items are nutritious and follow the guidelines as laid out by Canada’s food guide and the Health Unit. A nutritious lunch is provided each day. We follow Canada’s food guide by providing meals that contain one serving of each food group. Dietary restrictions are taken ...

Physical Education

Physical activity is a vital part of the development of the whole child. Physical activities and instruction are a part of every day at Bayside Montessori. We promote 40 minutes of physical activity everyday through the use of the gymnasium, our playground and various parks and ball fields that surround our school.

Practical Life

This introductory area includes care of self, care of the environment, and grace and courtesy. Montessori exercises for these include dressing frames, sweeping and greeting. While the child is learning these practical skills, he or she is also developing concentration, advancing his or her independence and increasing small muscle control. At a later stage, possibly ...

Science

The study of science is pursued through real life objects in the classroom. Plants and animals are studied in the classroom and experiments with magnets, the microscope and water are always being undertaken as a group or individually. Cards for studying botany, zoology and physiology are available to the child.

Sensorial

Included in preliminary exercises are the pink tower, sound cylinders, touch tablets and colour discrimination. These activities, first through matching and later through grading, increase the child’s ability to discriminate sensorial impressions. This is essential to reading and writing and the development of the growing human being.