Children come to school to enjoy life with their friends. At the same time, around 3 years of age, children are mastering the skills needed to focus and learn independently. Additionally, motor skills have now developed and allow the child to undertake more detailed academic work. Through varied group and individual activities, our bilingual program guides the child in their continuing development and learning. Our 3 year olds feel the happiness that comes from achieving new skills.
In the junior prekindergarten, children are ready for more focused academic learning. They show a keen interest in numbers, letters, and writing. Varied materials are used to encourage learning in a social, friendly environment. In addition to academic achievements, the child develops a love for learning and school which will last throughout their life.
All work is done in both English and French.
Letters / Language
- Phonetics – associating letters and their sounds
- Writing letters
- Practicing writing through copying words
- Developing vocabulary
- Story-time activities
- Matching letters and objects
- Show-and-tell activities to develop spoken language
- Matching words with objects
- Basic word recognition
Numbers / Mathematical Concepts
- Understanding quantities associated with numbers
- Counting
- Basic addition skills
- Writing numbers
- Building spacial skills using blocks and patterns. Develop the mathematical brain
- Number games (e.g., number bingo)
- Learning geometric shapes
Science
- planting seeds
- learning about native animals in Quebec (including hibernation and migration)
- insects
- amphibians and lizards
- performing simple science experiments
- learning about food and where it comes from (milk, eggs, etc) and about healthy eating
- weather concepts
- seasons
- learning about mixing colours
Music
- lessons once a week given by our music specialist (Wednesday or Thursday afternoon)
- musical activities in class
- creating our own orchestra
- singing with our teachers
- learning about different types of music during our theme weeks (for example Caribbean music)
- special events with musicians about once every second month throughout the year
Crafts
- free play time, colouring with coloured pencils and crayons, making our very own creations
- practicing our cutting with scissors
- painting
- crafts with our Arts and Crafts specialist (special activity offered every second
- month)
- crafts with our teachers to decorate our bulletin boards
- crafts with our teachers during special holiday times (mother’s day, etc: emphasis on the child
- doing the creating and making choices about colours, etc and how the finished product will
- look)
- face painting
- outdoor crafts: chalk art, painting in the snow
Theater
- puppet shows with our puppet theatre and puppets
- dress up box
- dress up in costume from home days
- funny hat days
- theatre groups performing with actors and/or with puppets at our school as a special event at least
- once per month
Movement is a vital component of brain development. Through non-competitive activities the children are encouraged to be physically active and learn how to be in control of their movements.
Aerobics and sports program
- games with balls, hoola hoops, balloons, scarves
- basic aerobic steps
- mini relay races
- musical chair “party” type games
- freeze dance
- outdoor introduction to sports
- Children’s Olympic-style games
Playground activities
- games with our friends
- games on the playground equipment
- sand play
- during the summer we play outdoors twice a day and in the winter once a day (after snack in the morning)
Optional programs
You may register your child for these programs, there is an additional fee
- Wimgym gymnastics (Kindergym program offered at the Wimgym facilities for ages 3 and up)
- Hip hop classes (offered at Montessori)
- Yoga classes (offered at Montessori Thursday mornings)
- Pre-ballet (offered at Montessori)
- Skill development gym Program for toddlers: A program to promote body awareness
At Montessori Pointe Claire, with the help of their teachers, the children become autonomous. They are not afraid to do things for themselves, to ask for assistance when necessary, and equally important, they have learnt to help others.
Social Skills
- getting along nicely with our classmates and friends
- learning to be independent (including separating from mom and dad, and learning to do
- things for ourselves)
- being able to wait for our turn
- learning to work cooperatively in a group
- becoming confident
- learning to problem solve
- knowing when to ask for a teachers assistance if needed
- being able to focus during a performance
- learning to express feelings
- learning the limits of our behaviour
- being polite
- having the confidence to ask questions and participate in a group discussion
- learning how to follow directions that have several steps