The Primary program accommodates children aged 3 to 6 years, who spend three years in a classroom alongside peers of different ages. This mixed-age setting allows them to develop close relationships with both their fellow students and teachers over an extended period.
A STRONG CLASSROOM COMMUNITY
Having the same classroom every year creates a sense of continuity, fostering a cohesive classroom community that benefits both children and parents.
Dr. Maria Montessori (1870 – 1952) pioneered a natural learning philosophy that encourages children to develop and grow through spontaneous, self-directed activities. Her approach to education recognizes that the first stage of human development (birth to age 6) is a time of incredible potential for learning and growth, known as the absorbent mind. At Joy Park Montessori Preschool, we provide children with a variety of materials and experiences that stimulate all five senses - touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing - to help them understand and absorb information about their environment. We also understand that children experience "sensitive periods" during this time, where they are particularly open to learning and development. Our skilled teachers help children refine their senses and perfect their natural learning tools during these periods. At our preschool, primary children learn by doing. The hands-on approach to learning is a hallmark of Montessori education, with students working with specially designed materials to manipulate and investigate until they master each lesson. Our teachers guide students through the curriculum, introducing new challenges when children are ready and allowing them to practice what they have learned. As children grow, the classroom materials grow with them, allowing older children to explore the curriculum in new and deeper ways.
The 3-6-year-old age group undergoes significant changes, including the transition to cooperative play, more complex social interactions, and the beginning of skills in writing and reading. There is also an emergence of number sense and the foundations of math, as well as great changes in physical development. Our Montessori teachers are well-equipped to respond to these changes in social and emotional, cognitive, and physical development by providing appropriate lessons that support each child's growth and emerging capabilities. Primary children can attend our school five days a week, with the option to stay for mornings-only or a full day. Our bilingual English-Chinese immersive school environment further enhances learning opportunities for our students. Join us at Joy Park Montessori Preschool for an exceptional educational experience for your child.
Primary Curriculum
In JPME Montessori classroom, students engage in immersive learning through specially designed materials that are hands-on, multi-sensory, and self-correcting. These materials facilitate dynamic interaction among various curriculum areas, building upon each other and interrelating to enhance children's natural interest in learning. The specific skills developed in each area are dependent on skills learned in other areas, further fueling children's enthusiasm for learning. With Joy Park Montessori approach, each child is encouraged to progress at their own pace, allowing them to be appropriately challenged and develop proficiency in each area according to their individual needs and development. Through this individualized approach, children are able to reach their full potential and develop a love of learning that will stay with them for a lifetime.
Practical Life
Sensorial
Math
English - Chinese Language
Science and Nature
Geography
Art
Physical Education
Field Trips
The Joy Park Montessori classroom prioritizes Practical Life activities as a fundamental aspect of a child's development, as they offer essential preparation for all other areas. These exercises facilitate the refinement of fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, hand strength, balance, concentration, and self-sufficiency in children. With regular practice of these exercises, children can develop practical skills that will prove invaluable throughout their lives. The Primary Practical Life exercises encompass a range of activities, including Pouring, Lacing, Scooping, Flower Arranging, Food Preparation and Serving, and Table Washing.
Sensorial materials are educational tools designed to assist children in learning about qualities such as color, size, shape, length, texture, and sound. Children between the ages of 3 and 6 are developing their ability to discriminate between various stimuli in their surroundings. By engaging in Sensorial activities, they can improve their observation skills and become more attuned to the world around them. Montessori recognized that children benefit from manipulating objects to better comprehend their environment. Through their interaction with Sensorial materials, children develop their ability to abstract concepts, differentiate elements in their surroundings, and acquire knowledge through personal experience. Examples of Sensorial materials in a primary classroom include Knobbed Cylinders for dimension practice, Color Tablets, Rough and Smooth Boards, Geometric Solids, the Pink Tower, and the Binomial Cube.
Joy Park Montessori classrooms are equipped with math materials that stimulate students' understanding of mathematical concepts. Sandpaper numerals and teen/ten boards help students develop numeracy and numeral recognition, as well as the ability to manipulate and represent quantities with numerals. The unique Montessori Golden Beads materials aid in exploring arithmetic operations. In JPME, students use various tools such as drawings, graphs, maps, charts, and numerals to record their understanding of math concepts. Hands-on exploration of measurement, including comparison, estimation, time, fractions, and money, leads to an understanding of operational concepts and equations. Performing arithmetic operations with the Golden Beads helps students establish place value and memorize concepts. The Bead Cabinet provides multi-sensory experiences of the squaring and cubing of numbers from one to ten, reinforcing the memorization of multiplication, addition, subtraction, and division.
Children are introduced to hands-on and engaging lessons in earth, life, and physical sciences. Through concrete activities, they develop a foundational understanding of living and nonliving things, how to differentiate between them, and how to categorize plants and animals. Students learn to care for plants by watering and cleaning them, and some may even have a small plot of land to tend to. They also learn the terminology for plant parts and engage in science experiments related to plant needs. Classroom pets expose children to the traits and needs of animals, and students learn how to care for them responsibly. Field trips and horticultural visits provide additional opportunities for children to deepen their understanding of plants and animals, and guest presenters offer lessons on various science topics such as the earth, water systems, weather, and rocks.
The Joy Park Montessori curriculum emphasizes geography as a means for children to learn how everything in the world is interconnected. Children start by learning about the two hemispheres of the Earth and then progress to studying continents and countries. They use wooden puzzle maps to develop their understanding of geography, with older children creating their own maps and labeling them in their own handwriting. Children also develop personal timelines, which help to foster discussions about past, present, and future as they prepare to study history. Additionally, through geography, children learn about different cultures and discover commonalities between people.
Joy Park Montessori classroom is filled with English and Chinese language activities that are integrated into all subject areas. Primary students discover the power of writing through tactile and visual experiences with sandpaper letters, metal insets, and the movable alphabet, which helps them associate sounds with symbols and develop the ability to write. Writing leads to reading, and children expand their communication skills by improving their auditory discrimination, increasing their vocabulary, and developing critical thinking and fluency. They learn about print concepts, establish reading and writing protocols, and form a relationship with narrative literature. Writing and reading happen simultaneously, leading to active participation in group discussions, reflection, sharing, drawing, singing, poetry, storytelling, read-alouds, dramatic play, and creative movement, fostering a love for language. In Joy Park English-Chinese immersive language environment, students are exposed to a rich linguistic experience that promotes bilingualism and intercultural understanding. The use of bilingual materials and activities, such as picture books, songs, and conversations, enables students to learn and use both languages in an authentic and meaningful way. They are encouraged to share their culture and language with their peers, creating a sense of community and appreciation for diversity. Through language immersion, students develop cognitive flexibility, cross-cultural communication skills, and a global perspective.
In Joy Pakr Primary classroom, children are provided with a diverse range of art and creative activities that are constantly updated. Through engaging in activities such as coloring, fine motor skill practice, and imaginative play, children develop their artistic abilities. The Art area of the classroom is dedicated to exploring the work of renowned artists, engaging in activities that involve matching fine art prints, creating collages, using scissors, hole punching, markers, crayons, paint, and even making their own play-dough. These activities are all part of the comprehensive Art curriculum that is designed to encourage children's creativity and artistic expression.
The Physical Education program is centered on movement, cooperative games, teamwork, and athletic skills. Through weekly classes, students cultivate strength, balance, hand-eye coordination, tactile awareness, directionality, and agility. They also learn important teamwork skills. For older students, especially kindergarten children, the program focuses on introducing the separate skill steps in team sports, helping each child gradually build a range of skills that enable full participation.
Our Kindergarten program offers a range of exciting and engaging field trips to local attractions. These excursions provide students with unique opportunities to explore and interact with the world beyond their classroom, fostering a deeper connection to their community and surrounding areas. Additionally, these experiences allow students to access a wealth of resources outside the classroom, enhancing their learning and broadening their perspectives.
