MONTESSORI PEDAGOGY
At Chia Seed Learning Center, we are committed to providing a bilingual Montessori education that celebrates the individuality of each child. Inspired by the words of Maria Montessori, we recognize the unique sensitivity of children and their natural ability to absorb knowledge from their surroundings. Our aim is to guide them on a path of self-discovery, empowering them to become self-directed learners, flexible thinkers, creative problem-solvers, and empathetic citizens.
When you step into our "primary room," you will be captivated by the peaceful and focused atmosphere. Contrary to common expectations, the children are engaged in purposeful activities, absorbed in their exploration of the carefully designed Montessori materials. We believe that when children are provided with the right tools and materials, they become active participants in their own learning journey, discovering their potential and expanding their horizons. For more information about our Lower Elementary Immersion Pod Learning program, please visit here.
CURRICULUM
Through collaborative learning, children within our preschool program will learn skills for practical life, refinement of their senses, language, and mathematics, and hands-on opportunities in areas ranging from physical science to history. This unique approach allows your child to develop skills that will foster incredible success throughout their lifetime.Our individual curriculum includes:
PRACTICAL LIFE
In the practical life area, little ones at Chia Seed experience a range of activities that promote independence and help them adapt to their social environment. These activities include caring for themselves, caring for the environment, practicing grace and courtesy, and developing physical control.
Practical life is real exercises.“Rolling up a rug, brushing a pair of shoes, washing a wash-basin or floor, laying the table, opening and closing boxes or doors or windows, arranging a room, setting chairs in order, drawing a curtain, carrying furniture, etc. — all these are exercises in which the whole body is engaged, sometimes one, sometimes another movement being perfected.”These exercises are physical exercises rather than ordinary gymnastics. Moreover, these practical exercises are not just exercise, but also the work or everyone must do after adulthood.
SENSORIAL
The senses are the bridge-building between the environment and us. This sharp discernment is exercised in daily practical life. For example, the typical visual sensory material - cylinders: its real purpose is not that children can put every cylinder back into the proper hole, but to refine the child's observation and cultivate them to distinguish the similarity ( They are all cylinders), dissimilarities (heights, or diameters, etc.), sense of order (from left to right or from big to small), guiding children to judge affairs by understanding and thinking.
The sensory education includes: visual, tactile, olfactory, auditory, and taste.
Through a series of sensory education exercises, children will become keen observers, promote and develop their general feelings, and make their feelings better prepared to complete such as reading, Complex movements such as writing also as a foundation for future mathematics learning.
Through the interaction with the sensory materials, children can obtain abstract concepts (large, small; thick, thin; long, short; high, short; cold, hot, or maximum, minimum, or a little smaller. ), also could obtain a more vivid impression for the environment.
MATHMATICS
In Chia Seed math curriculum, the main purpose of math education is letting the children become familiar with the quantity, accumulating mathematical experience, forming mathematical concepts, mastering simple mathematical operations, and promoting mathematics learning of children. Math education examines mathematics from the following four aspects in the experience of children. Children would exercise of the quantity concept, the quantity that is positioned within 10, the number based on 10, this part of the teaching has: Number rods(red -and -blue rods). In the amount of 1 to 10 in length, the amount corresponds to several names； Sandpaper numerals--Master the numbers from 1 to 10 and touch them by hand; The spindle boxes--Know the concept of 0-9; Cards and counters--Learn about odd and even numbers; Colored beaded stairs--An understanding of continuous number and a combination of quantity names.
Children would practice of the decimal system when they are learning the decimals from 1 to 10(one unit to one ten bar), from 10 to 100(one ten to one hundred board), from 100 to 1000( one hundred to one thousand cube), the materials have mainly made by golden beads and numeral cards.
Children would practice the number of consecutive from consecutive numbers materials, which mainly include the teen boards, the hundred board, mainly counting 1-100 numbers. The hundred bead chain, know the number of 1-100, the 1000 bead chain.
Children would learn the basic calculation exercises of the four operations, the composition and decomposition of the number, and the initial learning addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division.
CULTURAL STUDIES
Geography holds a prominent place within the Montessori curriculum, and at our center, we place great importance on introducing children to the world around them. Our geography program starts with a focus on the Earth's two hemispheres and gradually delves into more specific details, such as continents and countries. To make learning engaging and interactive, we provide large, colorful wooden puzzles representing different continents. Through these puzzles, children develop their spatial awareness and problem-solving skills as they assemble the pieces to recreate the map of each continent. As they progress, they become familiar with the countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Australia.
Furthermore, our Montessori community celebrates diversity and multiculturalism. We have families from various parts of the world, and we encourage them to share their unique customs, traditions, music, art, and cuisine with the classroom community. This allows the children to gain a deeper understanding of different cultures, fostering appreciation for both the differences and similarities among people from around the globe. Witnessing the convergence of diverse backgrounds within our little school community fills us all with a sense of wonder and reinforces the idea that the world is vast yet interconnected.
LANGUAGE ART
The Language Arts curriculum at Chia Seed Learning Center is designed to foster children's language development and literacy skills. Following the Montessori approach, the curriculum focuses on listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities to help children understand the meaning of abstract text and express themselves effectively. Through a combination of materials and educational design, children engage in activities that enhance vocabulary, reading comprehension, and communication skills. The curriculum recognizes the sensitive period for language development and provides a supportive environment for children to explore and excel in language arts.
In addition to the Language Arts curriculum, Chia Seed Learning Center offers a structured program for learning Chinese. Chinese language learning at the center follows a progressive approach that considers the developmental stages and needs of young learners. Children are exposed to various language activities, including listening to stories, engaging in conversations, and practicing writing and reading Chinese characters. The curriculum incorporates materials and instructional strategies that promote the acquisition of vocabulary, grammar, and cultural understanding. With the guidance of experienced teachers and the use of appropriate learning materials, children at Chia Seed Learning Center have the opportunity to develop their Chinese language skills effectively.
S.T.E.M
By nature, Montessori education shares many of the hallmarks of STEM education. For instance, question-based and hands-on learning, critical thinking, open-ended exploration and applying self initiative. It is also a natural place for STEM activities occur. This is a result of encouraging students to be independent, curious and innovative. With careful planning, Montessori materials fully engage a student’s senses. The curriculum also reinforces that everything is related, showing the connection of topics across the five Montessori Learning areas: Language Arts, Mathematics, Practical Life, Sensorial, and Geography/Culture.
At Montessori classroom, we offer age-appropriate activities that encompasses child’s innate curiosity about the world, including their interests in science, art, engineering, technology, and math.
We offer many daily activities that tie in directly to learning in the areas of science, technology, engineering, math, and the arts. Some learning activities your child may enjoy at our classroom can include:
· Planting a seed and observing its growth from seed to sprout to leaves and flowers
· Creating and observing rain gauges to learn about natural processes such as evaporation
· Blowing bubbles and watching how they respond to different environmental elements, such as breezes and different surface materials the bubbles may touch
· Learning about the design of things by playing with materials designed to nest into one another or connect with one another in a clear pattern
· Categorizing objects into groups that share the same trait (size, shape, color) The possibilities are endless for incorporating STEM or STEAM into child’s learning. With our teachers offering thoughtful guidance, Montessori equips child to do well in a technologically savvy future.
ARTS
PEACE MAKER
The Arts, including music, drama, and movement, are an integral part of our curriculum, holding equal importance alongside mathematics and language. We firmly believe in the power of the arts to provide children with a deep sense of culture, foster their creativity, enhance effective communication skills, and enable them to critically assess the world around them. Our parents, who understand the significance of the arts based on their own experiences, appreciate seeing their children uncover these timeless truths.
Our Art Curriculum is designed to provide a sequential program of instruction for all students, ensuring that each child has the opportunity to explore our shared artistic heritage, express their creativity through visual mediums, and understand the profound impact of art in conveying complex ideas and emotions. Through activities involving fine motor skills, color exploration, and imaginative expression, children engage in a wide range of artistic experiences. Our curriculum incorporates various art mediums, including collage, cutting, painting, drawing, and playdough, allowing children to develop their artistic abilities and expand their creative horizons.
The integration of arts into our daily classroom life is a key aspect of our approach. We begin by teaching fundamental techniques and concepts in isolation, such as pitch, rhythm, and specific artistic media, enabling each child to develop a personal repertoire of skills. These skills then become a means for children to express their own ideas, emotions, and deeper understanding of other subjects within the curriculum. Additionally, we expose children to diverse artistic styles, fostering an appreciation for the contributions of renowned and lesser-known artists alike. Through our Arts Curriculum, we aim to introduce children to the concept of artistic expression, develop essential artistic techniques, refine motor control, nurture aesthetic appreciation, enhance auditory discrimination, and cultivate a sense of rhythm.
The character and peace education aspect of the Montessori curriculum may not have tangible materials, but its influence is deeply woven into the fabric of the learning environment. It starts with the practical life activities, where children learn to care for themselves and their surroundings, fostering a sense of responsibility and respect. Grace and courtesy exercises explicitly teach social skills, nurturing a harmonious classroom atmosphere. The sensorial, mathematics, and language materials enhance children's understanding of the world and their ability to communicate effectively within their community. Cultural studies, science, and arts components provide a global perspective, encouraging children to see the world as interconnected and promoting a sense of unity. Together, these elements create a curriculum that not only cultivates academic knowledge but also nurtures good character, empathy, and a peaceful mindset.