Oconomowoc Montessori
Preschool & Kindergarten
Phone: 262-443-8445, Address: N60w35980 Lake Dr.
Each child is introduced to the specific “jobs” in the classroom through a combination of large group, small group and individual lessons with a teacher. Each child progresses through the academic areas at his or her own pace, and is assessed by teachers on an individualized basis. During "free choice time", each child gets a work rug or table mat and chooses a job. The child brings the job to the rug, completes it, has a teacher check to see if the activity was done correctly, and returns the materials to the appropriate shelf. This cycle is the foundation of Montessori work in the classroom. The classroom itself and the jobs on the shelves are arranged with the easiest/simplest activities on the top shelves, and the more complex jobs on the lower shelves. The classroom itself is large, with ample space for large activities and movement as children move from one job to another, getting materials and rugs. Our children do not only learn during "free choice time" and lesson circles, however. Meals and snacks are sit-down events, the focus being upon polite table manners and patience while waiting to eat their food. There is the opportunity for independent self-care as children clear their own places, use the bathroom and wash hands before nap time or the next activity. The goals of the Preschool program are these: to prepare children academically; to prepare them socially; and to encourage them to be independent thinkers, while at the same time able to interact positively and gently with others. (1) care of the environment—cleaning, sweeping, washing clothes, gardening, etc., (2) the care of the person—dressing, brushing teeth, cooking, setting the table, etc., and, (3) grace and courtesy—walking carefully, carrying things, moving gracefully, offering food, saying "please" and "thank you" and so on. LANGUAGE ding readiness. In the language area you will find a large variety of reading readiness materials as well as materials for the refinement of motor control for writing. In the Montessori Method, writing precedes reading, as the children explore with drawing and forming letters. The child begins by exploring the sounds that compose words and by using materials such as sand paper letters and playing games like I Spy. He can soon produce words and sentences by putting together sounds using a movable alphabet to make words and then sentences. KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM In the Kindergarten Program, the growth and learning that began in the Preschool Program continues, with an emphasis on language/reading and math skills in preparation for the inevitable transition to new schools. Our Kindergarten curriculum features a structured phonics reading program that begins with basic letter sound exercises, and extends through a 2nd grade reading level. In math, children can progress from basic 0-10 recognition to static addition and subtraction as well as place value skills through 9,999. Of course, all the other Montessori areas, with their varied activities, are also part of the curriculum, but extended to a higher level with more terminology in the cultural areas as well as more focus upon fine motor skill work in Practical Life. SPECIAL EVENTS Celebrations are a vital part of life and of education. It is through sharing our varied celebrations that children can best appreciate the rich diversity within our school and our world. To this end, the teachers, staff and children at Oconomowoc Montessori enjoy celebrating a wide range of holidays, as well as birthdays.
Children will be involved in a variety of activities while learning Spanish, such as singing, dancing, reading, and image recognition. Children at this age are at the sensitive period in their growth to learn languages.
A Three Year Cycle for Children Ages 3 - 6
The Montessori primary (preschool) classroom is a "living room" for children. Children choose their work from among the self-correcting materials displayed on open shelves, and they work in specific work areas. Over a period of time, the children begin working with high concentration and few interruptions. Through the work in the environment the child moves from being undisciplined to self disciplined, from disordered to ordered, from distracted to focused. The process occurs through repeated work with materials that captivate the child's attention. Preschoolers ages 3 -5 may attend 3, 4, or 5 half or full day programs. (If the child is 3 or turns 3 before the Christmas break they must attend a 4 or 5 day program in January.
Click her to find out why five days is best.
THE PRIMARY CURRICULUM
In the Montessori Preschool, five distinct areas constitute the prepared environment.
PRACTICAL
The traditional work of the family is referred to in Montessori as practical life work. It is the single most important area of an education for life. The activities of practical life are generally thought of in three main categories, and looking at the child's life in this way helps to keep a balance in the activities we offer children to master. These areas of practical life depend on the culture in which the child is growing up, and may include, but are not limited to: 
It is in learning to do such seemingly mundane activities as dressing, dusting, sweeping, preparing and serving food, and fixing or building, work that the child sees going on around her all day long, that she learns to use her body and mind for a purpose, to concentrate, to complete cycles of activity, to finish what she started, and most importantly to contribute to the important work of the family, the social group.
Practical life activities provide superior groundwork for physical, mental, and social development, and teach the work habits that lead to success in all later academic work.
Practical life work provides practice in eye-hand coordination, the control of large and small muscles, the ability to walk and to carry objects with control, and to behave with knowledge of good manners. These are the activities that bring the child's attention to his own progress and development, and that open up a world of important work. Learning to look a person in the eye when speaking, to listen patiently, to exhibit thoughtfulness through good manners, enables the child to be welcomed into a social group, to be happy and to make others happy.
SENSORIAL
Dr. Montessori saw the senses as the "doorway to the mind." She considered sensory a
nd manipulation not only an aid to the development of maturing sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin) but a starting point for the intellectual growth. She believed that by helping children to order, compare and classify sensory stimulation, their intellectual development would be greatly assisted and future learning would be more meaningful and useful. The basic sensorial exercise inspires careful observation and calls attention to specific qualities requiring identification of similarities and contrasts. The mind must judge, compare, classify and draw conclusions. These exercises tend to fascinate children because they are difficult enough to represent a real and meaningful challenge. They are then better prepared for future learning in math, language, and science and making sense of life's experiences and information in general. Some materials used include red rods, broad stairs, geometric shapes, textured boards, sound cylinders, smelling bottles and the all favorite mystery bag.The student also meets a rich vocabulary in the process and learns to discriminate perceptually, using the senses.
MATH
hild to a mathematical concept, then the child is given time to manipulate the materials to gain understanding through repetition. Working with these materials is fun and gives the child a deeper understanding of math and geometry.
Montessori math materials are visually appealing, precise and simple. Through active hands-on manipulation, complex mathematical concepts, exploration of numbers and problem solving skills are developed. The practical life and sensorial areas lay the foundation for mathematical concepts by providing numerous opportunities to experience association and 1:1 correspondence. Not only does a child learn name and number recognition, but can actually build and count the numbers with the materials. Students explore the four operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Students also learn geometry, fractions, measurement and graphing skills. Analyzing data and complex problem solving strategies are an integral part of our innovative math curriculum.
Language development is a central focus of the Montessori classroom. Many activities in other areas, foster vocabulary development, communication skills, writing and rea
CULTURAL INCLUDES SCIENCE, GEOGRAPHY
Science is an integral element of the Montessori curriculum. Among other things, it represents a way of life: a clear thinking approach to gathering information and 
problem solving. The scope of the Montessori science curriculum includes a sound introduction to botany, zoology, chemistry, physics, geology and astronomy. The Montessori approach to science cultivates children's fascination with the universe and helps them develop a lifelong interest in observing nature and discovering more about the world in which we live. The directress introduces history and geography as early as age three. The youngest students work with specially designed maps learn the names of the world's continents and countries.Music and movement education will also be important parts of the curriculum as well as the Arts. They offer children ways to express themselves, their feelings, experiences and ideas. Montessori schools are very interested in helping children develop control of their fine and gross-motor movement.
WE ALSO OFFER BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE.
SPANISH
The preschool students will be presented with a comprehensive Spanish language curriculum by a trained and experienced Spanish instructor. She will work with the entire group during morning line time ½ an hour, three times a week.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Weather permittin
g, the classroom has a secured outdoor area where they can paint, wash clothes, scrub tires, blow bubbles among a variety of other activities. We also have a large fenced in play area and grassy areas for picnics and other activities where we require more space. During the spring we have garden space for planting vegetables and flowers. During the fall the children harvest their crops that they tended to during the summer months. Children love to garden.
Oconomowoc Montessori offers preschool and kindergarten education programs to communities in Oconomowoc, Hartland, Delafield,
