Near North Montessori: Lower School

Preschool: 3-6 Program

"The child has his own laws of development; it is a question of following these, not of imposing ourselves upon him."

Preschool forms the vibrant cornerstone of Near North. Each preschool class is composed of a balanced mixed age group of 3- to 6-year-olds, all of whom attend the morning class session and some of whom stay through lunch in either the optional three-quarter day or full day programs.

Each classroom is comprised of spacious rooms housing carefully constructed furniture and manipulative materials arranged in a scientifically ordered and aesthetically prepared environment.

In the practical life area, a bouquet of flowers, an assortment of vegetables, a variety of workshop utensils, dressing frames and sewing, craft, art and cleaning supplies promise to engage the youngest children in the type of activities which lead to independence and the development of fine motor skills.

"It is almost impossible to say that there is a mathematical relationship between the beauty of the surroundings and the activity of the child."

In the sensorial area, the brown stair, pink tower, red rods and cylinder blocks teach concepts of size and dimension while color tablets aid in matching, grading and tone discrimination.

Sandpaper letters in the language area use touch to associate sound with shape. Geometric metal insets form the first handwriting materials. The moveable alphabet builds words and sentences without erasers. Grammar boxes associate color-coded symbols with parts of speech. Phonetic books introduce vowel sounds. Books incorporating vocabulary, classification and writing skills are created on subjects ranging from resident animal life to the parts of a leaf.

Geography materials include wooden puzzle maps as well as artifacts and pictures of each country. Science, art, music and movement are integrated into these academic areas. The study of Spanish begins at this level and is taught by native speaking instructors.

Among the principles underlying the learning process and conduct in the preschool classrooms are: the use of the word work to dignify the child's activity; the freedom to choose one's work; the right to uninterrupted concentration; the absence of rewards and punishments; order in the environment; respect for materials; consideration for others; freedom of movement and communication; freedom to work with others or alone; and an emphasis on cooperation and mutual aid.