Our Program
Aster Montessori Program
We focus on children aged 2½ to 6, a critical developmental stage during which a child’s natural curiosity drives learning. Our program adheres to the Montessori method, allowing for a deeper and more authentic educational experience than in conventional settings, and emphasizes social and emotional development. We have preschool and kindergarten grade-level children in our mixed-age classrooms.
Why Kindergarten at Aster Montessori
We encourage children to continue at our school for one more year after completing the preschool grade level, as it offers several well-established advantages and makes the transition to other schools smoother.
- Consolidation of skills: The Kindergarten year in our Montessori school allows children to reinforce and deepen their understanding of concepts introduced in previous years and master the skills and knowledge.
- Leadership opportunities: Kindergarten students often take on leadership roles as the older children in the classroom. They become role models for younger peers, fostering a sense of responsibility, empathy, and confidence.
- Social and emotional growth: Another year in the familiar Montessori environment allows children to develop social skills, emotional maturity, and self-confidence. They become more adept at working collaboratively, resolving conflicts, and expressing themselves effectively.
- Smooth transition to elementary school: An additional year in a familiar and supportive environment can ease the transition to a more structured elementary school setting. Children have increased confidence and adaptability when moving on to the next phase of their education.
The Curriculum
The curriculum covers primary areas of the Montessori method: Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, Language, Cultural Studies, and Science. Beyond this curriculum, we include well-curated learning in Music, Science, Art, Languages, and Physical Education.
Practical Life
Children acquire daily life skills such as dressing up, preparing snacks, setting the table, engaging in art activities, and taking care of themselves and others. Through these activities, children also learn important values such as gratitude, kindness, attentive listening, and peaceful conflict resolution, which help them develop grace and courtesy. In addition to imparting specific skills, these activities promote self-reliance and enhance fine and gross motor coordination.
Sensorial
As children grow, they develop their sensory skills and describe their experiences using words like rough or smooth, which they learn through touch. This type of learning helps children organize and classify their environment, which is critical in laying a solid foundation for math, geometry, vocabulary, and engineering concepts. It also helps them develop crucial skills such as sorting, classifying, and discriminating, which are essential for their future learning and development.
Math
Children can learn to identify numerals and match them to their corresponding quantities, understand the base-10 system and place-value, and practice basic mathematical operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division through hands-on activities. They can also explore patterns within the numbering system. Using an exploratory approach, children can gain a comprehensive understanding of the concepts behind math facts instead of simply memorizing them.
Science
The Science Area seeks to inspire children to explore and discover scientific concepts across various fields through investigation. Our aim is not only to teach them about science but to teach them through science, an extension of their everyday world. Children will naturally wonder, discover, and explore scientific concepts enjoyably and educationally. We introduce children to basic concepts through simple experiments. Additionally, we focus on environmental concerns and introduce ecology to children, emphasizing our responsibility as citizens of the Earth.
Language
Children are introduced to basic language concepts through pre-language activities such as matching, sequencing, and vocabulary-building exercises. In the core language phase, children are taught phonics, including blending sounds, recognizing non-phonetic words, building words, constructing sentences, and reading and writing using a variety of objects and picture cards. This area of language development also covers fundamental grammar concepts.
Cultural Studies
The cultural area of the curriculum integrates a wide range of subjects such as history, geography, science, art, and music. Through these subjects, children learn about their community and their world. By exploring similarities and differences among people and places, they develop a better understanding and appreciation of the diversity of our world and learn to respect all living things.
Extra-curricular Activities
Music
Music is a crucial element of the curriculum, and our program incorporates different musical instruments to encourage children to explore the magical world of sounds with a dedicated music teacher. Studies have shown that teaching young children in ensembles increases their desire to learn in all areas.
Yoga
Yoga an essential element of our curriculum is an excellent way to help children connect with their mind, body, and inner self, along with peace education lessons.
Second Language
A second language is vital to any curriculum as it enriches students' development and contributions to the world. At our school, we offer an introduction to Spanish and Mandarin.
Physical Education and Outdoor Activity
Children need to have the opportunity to run, play, and release energy every day. We include daily physical education and gross motor exercises to help build strong bodies and improve balance and hand-eye coordination through running, throwing, and swinging.
