Infant
Infant Program
Here at Polka Dot Montessori, we promote a shared understanding of children as competent, capable and rich in potential. We guide our educators and administrators on how best to support children’s learning and development.
Our infant room is divided into separate areas for sleeping, playing, eating, and changing diapers. That way, everything and everyone stays clean and safe, and playing infants don’t bother sleeping ones.
Teachers give the infants “small physical challenges”, educators might put an interesting object just out of reach so that infants learn to coordinate their movements to stretch and grasp the object. Or they might add a short riser or a single step to give older infants some climbing practice.
We use programs developmentally appropriate: This means that’s teachers provide challenges that are not too hard or too easy, something infants can do with a little help. It also means that teachers:
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Plan based on each child’s individual age and stage of development
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Help each child meet goals that are just right for that child
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Value each child’s family and culture
Our unique infant program offers a caring and stimulating environment designed to meet the individual needs of each child. A consistent and simple daily schedule provides security and comfort for our infants.
Daily logs and an Individual Learning Analysis/Observation Portfolios has been created specifically for our parents, to document each child’s progress from Infant through CASA.
Our infant environment is equipped with hands-on learning materials in the areas of Practical Life, Fine-Motor Control, Sensorial Development, and Language Development.
Hands-on activities helps children to strengthen the muscles of the hand, improve accuracy, and learn functional skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. Our room is filled with objects to grasp and move, mirrors for visual stimulation, and a variety of textures for touching.
Infants will spend time both indoors and outdoors, they are always encouraged to freely explore in a safe and loving environment. Being outside gives infants and lots of time and opportunity to develop their large motor skills, to freely crawl, toddle, walk, climb, run, and move their bodies through space in new and different ways. This improves their overall fitness and health.
Toddler
Toddler Program
Polka Dot Montessori Toddler program runs from eighteen months to two and a half years, toddlers love to move climb, jump, and dance. Children as young as eighteen months calmly take their own child-sized activities from low shelves and cupboards by themselves and return everything they use to its correct place.
The children know where everything belongs and hardly need guidance from their teachers. Teachers offer toddlers many ways to be active, both indoors and outdoors. They also provide materials and activities that interest children their age and help improve hand coordination, like scribbling with crayons and stacking toys.
Teachers at Polka Dot Montessori give your children opportunities to try new social skills and try doing things for themselves. Many activities contain an inbuilt factor which allows the children to discover and correct their own mistakes without asking the homeroom teachers. Teachers encourage children and help them express their feelings in positive, healthy ways.
Casa
Casa Program
The Casa classroom is divided into five different areas: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Math, Culture- geography, botany, zoology, science.
Montessori education offers a broad vision of education as an aid to life.
Education involves more than acquiring skills in math, language, science and the arts. Education must also provide our children with deeper skills that will enrich their lives, explore the meaning of life, the caring of self and others, the emotions of love, forgiveness and understanding, the ability to adapt to unanticipated developments, the fostering of curiosity and the love of learning.
Our Montessori Casa Program is designed to complement the Montessori philosophy. Teachers help Casa students discover Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Math, Culture- geography, botany, zoology, science, Music, Art, Physical Education and Spatial Movement are part of the integrated cultural program. The Casa Program provides students with a firm foundation for all further learning.
STEM
STEM Extracurriculars
Polka Dot Montessori will be offering an extra-curricular science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program. This program will touch on real world contexts. They will learn about what is going on in the world today and will provide transferable skills that children will use in the future. The STEM program is a great way for children to work in teams and collaborate with not only their peers but coaches and other adults.
A portion of the program will focus on robotics, we are privileged to partner up with First Robotics Canada to follow a program that supports children from ages three to fourteen years old. The program will work with Legos to start but children will grow to work with more complicated material and coding. The break down will be:
1. First Lego League Discover (3 -6 years old) – This program is designed to grab the young minds of children and get them intrigued about robotics. Classes are normally done in ten sessions but materials and projects may extend past that. The goal of this portion of the program is to give children preparation and confidence to move on to the next step.
2. First Lego League Explore (6-10 years old) – continuing on with their brand-new love of robotics, children will be working in teams to explore real world scientific problems such as food safety, recycling, energy, and so much more. In this program children will work together to complete their new projects and think critically through their projects. At the end of each session children will introduce their work and celebrate their accomplishments.
3. First Lego League Explore (9-14 years old) – Children in this are working on Lego based robots that will be doing a specific task. This will be guided by a coach but the children will ultimately do all the work!
This program will be offered after school and on weekends. And during after school hours, for more program information and fees please feel free to contact us!
Yoga
Yoga Extracurriculars
Yoga is not just for adults but for children too! It is a fantastic discipline that will teach children life skills for the future but provides a fantastic physical outlet where children can express
themselves. Yoga has so many benefits such as:
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Emotional development – It will learn skills that will assist in self-regulation. During these classes children will have opportunities to focus on their breathing that will help assist them in managing their anxiety and emotions.
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Discipline – Clearing one’s mind and working on patience and awareness
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Physical development – Yoga promotes flexibility and strength in one’s body.
Polka Dot Montessori focuses on the overall child. Providing opportunities for children to explore new things.
Music
Music Extracurriculars
Polka Dot Montessori is offering a music program for children three and up. In the early years, children will be introduced to music and move to the beats of music but music is so much more then dancing but it provides stimulation to the brain. Music classes here at Polka Dot Montessori is not just about learning to play an instrument but providing creative expression. Music is a wonderful gift that can lift spirits but also provide knowledge on basic literacy and numbers. Children will learn the difference in sounds and anticipate what is coming next.
Music programs will be run during after school hours as well as on weekends! It will be thought by a trained professional who will teach age-appropriate music skills. Please contact us if you are interested and would like to know more!
Language
Language Extracurriculars
Polka Dot Montessori is proud to offer different language programs, the best way for children to learn new languages is through hands on activities and lessons. Here at Polka Dot Montessori, we have teachers who are fluent in French or Mandarin. The program will allow for children to fully immerse themselves in their new languages, consistency is so important, it will focus on reinforcing their learning and increasing their exposure and results. We live in an interconnected world filled with multiple languages, learning different languages will improve not only their learning skills but social skills too.
Freedom of choice and movement is still very important to Polka Dot Montessori and we are encouraging children to incorporate different languages into their daily routine. Language programs will be offered after school and on weekends!
Summer Camp
Polka Dot Montessori is excited to offer a Summer Camp Program for children with a focus on learning and fun. This program provides children with a unique opportunity to engage in a variety of activities, make new friends, and continue learning and growing throughout the summer months.
Throughout the summer, children will participate in activities designed to foster their creativity, imagination, and educational development. From outdoor games and arts and crafts, to storytelling and educational field trips, children will have the opportunity to explore new interests and develop new skills.
Our experienced and trained staff are committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment where children can have a fun and enriching summer, all while continuing to learn and grow. The Summer Camp Program at Polka Dot Montessori is the perfect way for children to stay engaged and active during the summer months.
Winter Camp
Polka Dot Montessori is proud to offer a Winter Camp Program for children with a focus on learning and fun! This program provides children with a unique opportunity to engage in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, make new friends, and continue learning and growing throughout the winter months.
Throughout the winter, children will participate in activities designed to foster their creativity, imagination, and educational development. From indoor games and arts and crafts, to storytelling and educational field trips, children will have the opportunity to explore new interests and develop new skills.
Our experienced and trained staff are committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment where children can have a fun and enriching winter experience, all while continuing to learn and grow. The Winter Camp Program at Polka Dot Montessori is the perfect way for children to stay engaged and active during the winter months.
March Break Camp
Polka Dot Montessori is excited to offer a March Break Camp Program for children with a focus on learning and fun. This program provides children with a unique opportunity to engage in a variety of activities, make new friends, and continue learning and growing during the March break.
Throughout the camp, children will participate in activities designed to foster their creativity, imagination, and educational development. From indoor and outdoor games and arts and crafts, to storytelling and educational field trips, children will have the opportunity to explore new interests and develop new skills.
Our experienced and trained staff are committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment where children can have a fun and enriching March break experience, all while continuing to learn and grow. The March Break Camp Program at Polka Dot Montessori is the perfect way for children to stay engaged and active during the school break.