Kindergarten/ First grade
Montessori Kindergarten Curriculum
Amici Trilingual Montessori's mission is to provide a trilingual language immersion education program in Mandarin, Spanish, and English using the Montessori curriculum and philosophy. This is designed to provide students with a unique multicultural educational experience that incorporates language immersion, and a child-centered approach to learning. Research shows that it takes five to seven years for a children to develop native-like fluency in a foreign language. Therefore we are adding a private trilingual Montessori kindergarten and we are beginning with a kindergarten and 1st grade classroom. We will add a grade each year going forward up to 6th grade. The school's cutting-edge vision is to develop students' fluency in all three languages, while also fostering creativity, independence, and a love of learning. Developing global citizens that have the knowledge and tools to develop there place in the world.
Free Private trilingual Montessori Education
Language Immersion
Learning a language through organic conversations and teacher-led direct instruction using small groups and individualized instruction are two different education philosophies that teachers can use to help students acquire language skills. Let's take a closer look at each of these approaches:
Learning Language Through Organic Conversations:
This approach is based on the belief that language is best learned through immersion and meaningful, organic conversations. The teacher's role is to create an environment that encourages and facilitates natural conversation, allowing students to learn and practice language skills in context. In this approach, teachers may use strategies such as:
Teacher-Led Direct Instruction Using Small Groups and Individualized Instruction:
This approach emphasizes teacher-led instruction, with teachers taking a more active role in guiding students' language acquisition. The teacher may use direct instruction, modeling, and explicit instruction to teach vocabulary, grammar, and other language skills. In this approach, teachers may use strategies such as:
Both approaches have their benefits and limitations. The organic conversation approach is more student-centered, allowing students to learn through meaningful and authentic experiences. However, it can be challenging for students who need more structure and guidance in their learning. The teacher-led direct instruction approach is more teacher-centered, providing clear guidance and support to students. However, it can be less engaging for students who prefer a more hands-on and interactive approach to learning.
Ultimately, the choice of approach depends on the needs and preferences of the students, the goals of the language learning program, and the teacher's own teaching style and philosophy.
The program would also prioritize cultural immersion, incorporating aspects of Chinese, Spanish, and American culture into the curriculum. This could include cultural festivals, guest speakers, and field trips to local cultural sites.
The trilingual immersion education program and the Montessori Philosophy both emphasize the development of key life skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration.
Free Private trilingual Montessori Education
Language Immersion
Learning a language through organic conversations and teacher-led direct instruction using small groups and individualized instruction are two different education philosophies that teachers can use to help students acquire language skills. Let's take a closer look at each of these approaches:
Learning Language Through Organic Conversations:
This approach is based on the belief that language is best learned through immersion and meaningful, organic conversations. The teacher's role is to create an environment that encourages and facilitates natural conversation, allowing students to learn and practice language skills in context. In this approach, teachers may use strategies such as:
- Conversations with native speakers of the target language
- Reading books, newspapers or articles in the target language
- Role-playing and simulations
Teacher-Led Direct Instruction Using Small Groups and Individualized Instruction:
This approach emphasizes teacher-led instruction, with teachers taking a more active role in guiding students' language acquisition. The teacher may use direct instruction, modeling, and explicit instruction to teach vocabulary, grammar, and other language skills. In this approach, teachers may use strategies such as:
- Small group instruction where the teacher is able to provide individualized instruction to each student
- Scaffolded instruction where the teacher provides support as students work independently
- Error correction and feedback
Both approaches have their benefits and limitations. The organic conversation approach is more student-centered, allowing students to learn through meaningful and authentic experiences. However, it can be challenging for students who need more structure and guidance in their learning. The teacher-led direct instruction approach is more teacher-centered, providing clear guidance and support to students. However, it can be less engaging for students who prefer a more hands-on and interactive approach to learning.
Ultimately, the choice of approach depends on the needs and preferences of the students, the goals of the language learning program, and the teacher's own teaching style and philosophy.
The program would also prioritize cultural immersion, incorporating aspects of Chinese, Spanish, and American culture into the curriculum. This could include cultural festivals, guest speakers, and field trips to local cultural sites.
The trilingual immersion education program and the Montessori Philosophy both emphasize the development of key life skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration.
Montessori Philosophy
The Montessori curriculum and philosophy is based on the belief that children learn best when they are given freedom to explore and discover at their own pace. The program would provide a carefully prepared environment with a range of age-appropriate materials and activities that allow students to learn through play and exploration.
The Montessori Primary program offers a unique, mixed-age classroom environment, for children approximately 3 to 6 years old. Here, children engage in individual learning experiences, as well as one-on-one interactions, which are integral to the Montessori Method. Children use concrete materials to learn math; movable alphabet letters to explore language and English phonics, use cubes, cylinders and other objects to categorize, find spatial relationships, and more. Practical learning experiences explore key subjects including:
The Montessori curriculum and philosophy is based on the belief that children learn best when they are given freedom to explore and discover at their own pace. The program would provide a carefully prepared environment with a range of age-appropriate materials and activities that allow students to learn through play and exploration.
The Montessori Primary program offers a unique, mixed-age classroom environment, for children approximately 3 to 6 years old. Here, children engage in individual learning experiences, as well as one-on-one interactions, which are integral to the Montessori Method. Children use concrete materials to learn math; movable alphabet letters to explore language and English phonics, use cubes, cylinders and other objects to categorize, find spatial relationships, and more. Practical learning experiences explore key subjects including:
- Science and Nature- The Montessori science curriculum seeks to cultivate children’s natural curiosity and to allow them to discover the answers to their “why” questions. As with the other areas of the curriculum, science study concentrates on process, in this case, the scientific process of question, hypothesis, procedure, observation, data analysis and conclusion.
- Music and Movement-Student will dance and move to Chinese, hispanic and American music. Piano lessons will be offered.
- Sensorial- Maria Montessori believed that nothing comes into the mind except through the senses. During the years between three and six, as children develop their senses, their attention is directed toward the environment. The purpose of the Sensorial activities is to help the child in his efforts to sort out the many varied impressions given by the senses.
- Cooking and Nutrition- Healthy eating and good nutrition are hallmarks of of the Montessori philosophy. Students participate in lessons regarding nutrition and food preparation. Daily snacks consist of fruits and vegetables. Students have opportunities to be part of the food preparation activities by learning to wash, slice, and serve. They play an integral role in the set-up and clean-up rituals, gaining ownership over their snacks and meals.
- Cultural Awareness- Students will learn Chinese and hispanic culture through activities that are taught by Montessori certified Chinese and Hispanic teachers.
- History- The study of history is vital because it promotes the development of analytical skills, comparative perspectives, and question and answers modes of critical judgement that promote thoughtful work in any field or career. Students apply the lessons of history to their lives as citizens of the United States and members of the world community.
- Geography-Using movement, their senses, and intellect, children explore the geography of this amazing planet. They pour the shapes of lakes, learn the names of countries and oceans, taste foods, and sing songs from China and Spanish speaking countries.
- Language Arts- Student learn the understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes). Know and apply phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. Student will read emergent-reader texts with purpose and understanding.
- Mathematics- Students use numbers, including written numerals, to represent quantities such as counting objects in a set; counting out a given number of objects; comparing sets or numerals and recognizing the cardinalities of small sets of objects.
- Practical Life- Practical Life emphasizes the development of life skills that support independent thought and action. Learning to set the table, prepare snack, clean and care for the environment and to host guests all enable the child to develop social skills that are needed in modern society.