Casa

34 Months To 6 Years Old

The Casa program at My First Montessori School revolves around building and strengthening the foundations learned by the students in the Toddler program. They are encouraged to be independent learners and get a strong grasp of educational materials at their own pace and ability. We maintain a 8:1 student to teacher ratio, while each Casa classroom has Montessori trained teachers and Registered Early Childhood Educators.

What your child will learn

My First Montessori School’s unique Casa program uses the Montessori philosophy along with the Ministry of Education pedagogy on early learning to help children achieve their fullest potential. Please click below to find out more about the domains and skills that the children will work towards.

Social

Making friends
Conflict resolution
Peer group entry skills
Helping skills
Co-operation
Empathy
Interacting with adults

Emotional

Self-concept
Identity formation
Self-esteem
Recognizing and expressing emotions
Positive attitudes toward learning

Language & Literacy

Using verbal & non-verbal communication
Vocabulary
Conversing with peers and adults
Using descriptive language to explain, explore and extend
Listening to others
Enjoying literacy
Phonological awareness
Reading
Familiar conventions of print
Writing skills

Cognition

Self-regulation
Problem solving
Representation
Questioning
Observing
Collecting and organizing information
Reflecting and reaching conclusions
Classifying
Seriating
Determining quantity
Identifying patterns
Measurement

Physical

Gross Motor

Walking
Jumping
Hopping
Galloping
Throwing
Riding

Fine Motor

Dressing
Eating
Tool use

Casa Curriculum

Children enrolled in the Casa program have the potential and opportunity to work on diverse materials. Our classroom is warm and welcoming, encouraging children to feel supported and enjoy their time at our school. The Montessori style of ‘directing’ rather than ‘teaching’ means that we enhance and nurture the inner ability of each child to learn instinctively.

Practical life activities provide the groundwork for physical, mental, and social development, and are the foundation of a Montessori environment. The main purpose for this area is for the child to develop independence, coordination and concentration. The real life experiences that come from the practical life area such as pouring, transferring and dressing help children with their daily life routines.

The sensorial materials in the classroom allow the child to refine their sense of touch, taste, smell, sight and sound. The sensorial area builds the child’s concentration for a wider awakening of the senses and perception for distinguishing different qualities and patterns. Many of the exercises in this area are also indirect preparations for later mathematics and language work.

The Math area of the Montessori classroom encompasses the use of concrete materials for the recognition of numbers and the recognition of quantity as well. Mathematics activities are divided into six categories : counting and the decimal system, memory work, concrete abstraction, arithmetic tables and geometry. Children are introduced to more complex mathematical procedures and concepts, as they are individually ready.

The Language area of the Montessori classroom encourages development of early-literacy. Language skills are acquired in steps. Speaking, learning the phonetic sounds of letters, word building and recognition, writing and reading.

The Culture area of the classroom gives children the ability to learn about a variety of subjects in a hands on way that gets kids excited about learning. It also educates them about their culture and the culture of others and respect. The classroom encompasses a variety of subjects which include: Geography, Zoology, Botany, Science, Art & Music and Languages.

Practical Life	Sensorial	Mathematics	Language	Culture
Care of Self - Dressing frames - Folding clothes - Polishing - Locks & keys - Sewing	Visual - Cylinder blocks - Pink tower - Brown stairs - Red rods - Binomial cube - Trinomial cube - Geometric cabinet	Numbers to 10 - Number rods - Sandpaper numbers - Spindal box - Numbers and counters	Oral - Identifying sounds - Matching objects and pictures - Rhyming words	Geography - Sandpaper globe - Water & land forms - Puzzle maps - Introducing directions
Care of Environment - Washing tables - Washing windows - Polishing - Sweeping - Caring for a plant	Tactile (Touch) - Touch boards - Touch tablets - Touch fabrics - Thermic tablets - Mystery bag	Decimal System - Golden beads - Associating quantities and numbers - Matching quantities & numbers - exchanging	Writing - Sandpaper letters - Metal insets - Moveable alphabet - Writing on chalkboard - Placing letters between lines - Writing on paper	Zoology - Living & non-living - Vertebrates & invertebrates - 5 classes of animals
Grace and Courtesy - Greeting people - Manners - Table manners	Olfactory (Smell) - Smelling bottles	The 4 Operations - Addition - Subtraction - Multiplication - Division - Stamp game - Word problems	Reading - Pink scheme (3 letter phonetic words) - Blue scheme (4-5 letter phonetic words) - Green scheme (phonograms)	Science - Magnetism - Cause & effect - Volume - Light & colour
Control of Movement - Rolling mats - Walking on a line - Carrying a tray - Transferring with a spoon - Using tongs	Gustatory (Taste) - Taste bottles	Memorization - Small number rods - Snake game - Addition & subtraction charts - Strip board - Multiplication bead board	Part of Speech - Noun and verbs - Grammar - Conjunctions - Prepositions	Botany - Parts of a plant - Parts of a flower seeds
Focus and Concentration - Lacing - Sorting - Order	Auditory (Sound) - Sound cylinder - Silence game - Montessori bells	Fractions	Sentence Analysis (Structure)	History - Family tree - 4 seasons - Calendar
Personal Independence	Stereognostic (Touch with Movement)	Time & Money	Composition	French

Sample Casa Schedule

7:00am - 8:30am	Before School Program	This is a supervised activity period (not Montessori) where children are free to choose from numerous activities set up by the classroom teacher
8:30am - 10:30am	Montessori Work Period & Morning Snack	Children will explore the prepared environment in the 5 areas of the classroom. They will also be given presentations by the teachers at this time. Individual Snack is available to children up until 10:30am
10:30am - 11:00am	French & Circle	Using the Montessori philosophy, children develop the French language through music and visual aids. (French classes will be twice a week)
11:00am - 12:00pm	Outdoor Play	Children will engage in a variety of play that will promote gross and fine motor skills. Children also develop social skills (weather permitting)
12:00pm - 12:30pm	Lunchtime Preparation	Children wash hands and enjoy a healthy lunch
12:30pm	Dismissal	Children enroled in the Morning Half Day Program must be picked up at this time.
12:30pm – 3:00pm	Rest time or Montessori Work Period	Children who do not require a nap are free to find materials from the 5 areas of the classroom they would like to work with. Children waking up after a nap will join the work period.
3:00pm - 3:15pm	Circle Time	Children engage in songs, themes and culture presentations.
3:15pm - 3:45pm	Afternoon Group Snack	Children help prepare the snack table and enjoy a healthy snack as a group
3:45pm - 4:15pm	Specialty Programs	These activities will include art, dance, yoga, martial arts, and physical education.
4:15pm	Dismissal/After School Program Begins	Children not enroled in the After-School Program must be picked up at this time.
4:15pm - 5:15pm	Outdoor Play	Children will engage in a variety of play that will promote gross and fine motor skills. Children also develop social skills (weather permitting)
5:15pm - 6:00pm	Free Play & Evening Snack	Teachers develop a program for children which includes free play, drama, blocks etc. Children will enjoy a variety of activities they can work at as a group to further develop their social skills. A light snack will be provided.