Primary children face new developmental challenges. A specially prepared learning environment is just as important now as it was during the Pre-Primary years for children to achieve their full potential. A well-established Primary environment gives children the opportunity to continue to progress at their own pace. At the Primary level, learning continues to be hands on experience moving into abstract concepts. The goal is to lead the child away from a dependency on concrete models towards the ability to solve problems on paper. Similar hands on materials help students understand grammar, sentence analysis and so on.
In this course the student teacher will not only learn the presentations of the various advanced concepts, but will also learn how to help the child progress from concrete to abstract learning.
Core Montessori Subjects:
At the end of each of these core subjects, the student teacher makes an album with notes on these subjects for future reference, that will be graded.
Advanced Exercises of Practical Life
Primary children are ready to take on a much higher level of challenge and responsibility. The Exercises of Practical Life continue to encourage the development of the child’s self esteem and independence. The lessons in the practical life skills found in the primary environments are diverse. We call these advanced practical life exercises. They aid in continuing the development of fine motor skills and help children learn new creative skills.
Advanced Math
Taking off from where we stopped in the pre primary curriculum, the math activities in the primary curriculum introduce the child to more complex concepts like addition of fractions, peg board, decimals, ratio and so on. In the Primary curriculum arithmetic and geometry are interrelated. Geometry will be studied using the geometry stick material. The student teacher is tasked with creating worksheets for the different mathematical concepts and comes up with a game for one of the concepts of their choosing.
Geometry
The Primary child studies the concepts learnt in Pre-Primary in more detail. For example they will learn what angles are and the types of angles. This is done using the Geometric stick material.
Advanced Language
Student teachers are presented with a variety of supplementary activities to reinforce reading skills. Using the concrete material the teacher learns to present the basic parts of speech. Included in the study of language, is the structure analysis of a sentence. The primary language program places great stress on the development of strong skills in creative writing. Spelling, poetry, book reports and literary elements are also introduced. This will enhance their reading and writing skills. The student teacher is tasked with writing their own essay on a topic of their choice and learns how to grade it using the rubrics for the Six Traits of Writing. They also teach a child the long lost skill of letter writing based on the video in the curriculum.
Advanced Cultural
One of Montessori’s key objectives is to develop a global perspective and hence the study of history and world celebrations forms the corner stone of the curriculum. Major topics in this area are exercises in the field of History, Geography, Botany, Zoology and a brief introduction into Chemistry. Physical geography in the Primary curriculum deals with the study of the emergence of the oceans and atmosphere and the evolution of life. The student teacher is tasked with creating original material, nomenclature cards, labeling and a booklet for the topic Pollination. They are also expected to present the process of pollination using the models that they have made.
The Great Lessons
The Great lessons include the stories of how the world came to be, the development of life on earth and interrelated studies in the form of inspiring stories. The 5 great lessons are given to children in order for them to get a cosmic perspective of the earth and man’s place within the cosmos.
Other Subjects:
These subjects will enhance the teaching experience and provide the student teacher with new skills.
Science experiments
The Primary child conducts science experiments and notes down the hypothesis, observation and conclusion. The student teacher learns how to create a science environment, present science experiments and record the data. As a project, the student teacher performs 5 experiments and records it with pictures. They also make a science file for future reference.
Meditation
The primary child is shown simple meditation techniques like following the breath and following the sound of the bell. The student teacher will learn how to guide a meditation for children. This brings calm and peace that will help in their development as individuals.
Observations
Observation of primary children within the Montessori environment is an essential aspect of teacher training. It is only through the acquisition of excellent observation skills that the guide is able to properly assess each child and truly be “the dynamic link” between the child and the environment, knowing when to “kindle the flame of interest” and when to step back and allow the child to interact with the environment on his own.