Toddler & Casa / Preschool Program
Toddler Level (18 months – 3 years)
Research in neuroscience, pediatrics, and psychology has proven time and again that Toddler and Preschool aged children are moving through the most critical period in their educational and emotional development (see Foundations of Learning). They move in a very concrete world and thrive on experiencing the world through their senses; seeing, hearing, touching, tasting and feeling. They can see that a pumpkin is orange and a frog is green, but they don’t know why, and aren’t particularly interested in finding out. They are simply thrilled by the notion that they can sense that difference.
Toddlers are characterized by:
- Eagerness to explore, with all the senses
- Search for independence
- Love of and a sensitivity to language
- Need for order to establish security and independence
- Period of “the absorbent mind”
Our Toddler program is based specifically on the needs of children 18 months to 3 years of age. In a warm and inviting indoor and outdoor environment, the children find activities they love and are given many opportunities to explore the outdoors, engage in the arts, and enjoy group activities.
They’re provided opportunities to develop physically, cognitively, socially and emotionally, and develop an awareness of others through their activities as members of a community. They experience an increased level of confidence in a setting with established routines that support their independence.
We offer our Toddler program at our downtown and Westmount locations; this program supports the child’s needs for a sleep period, healthy lunch and snack times, daily physical activity, and developing toileting independence.
Casa (Preschool) Level (3 – 6 years)
The Casa level is part of the same highly critical educational and emotional development period as the Toddler level, however within this period children transform themselves from the unconscious development of a toddler, to the conscious development of a preschooler (see Foundations of Learning). They continue to be firmly rooted in the concrete world; they thrive on exploration of the world with their senses and begin to make more challenging sensory observations.
In the Casa level, the children are given activities that are deliberately designed to have them experience abstract theories in concrete form. This is done so that as they move into higher levels of education, the children are well prepared to understand abstract theories found in math and the sciences.
The Casa program continues to be based on the key characteristics and needs of children ages 3 to 6 years, including:
- Eagerness to explore, with all the senses
- Search for independence
- Love of and sensitivity to language
- Need for order to establish security and independence
- Period of “the absorbent mind”
The Casa program first introduces the three-year age groupings that correspond to stages of child development, and are an integral feature of traditional Montessori education. During this period, the level of exploration explodes along with the child’s significant cognitive development.
In the Casa program, children engage in the Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Culture (including Science, Geography and History), and Math areas. They are consciously supported by Montessori-trained teachers who direct, guide, and carefully observe the child to be fully aware of his or her development. New material is introduced to the child as he or she is ready for it, and it is not unusual for children to leave the Casa level at the age of 6 with highly developed reading and writing skills, the ability to do simple math, and a thirst to move on to the elementary program.
The Casa level also features programs in French and Music & Movement, including a variety of in-class and outdoor movement activities, a music program, and physical development with a trained physical education specialist. There is also a focus on the development of independence and respect, which are demonstrated inside and outside the classroom.
Canada Wide Early Learning Child Care program statement
Montessori Academy of London, with unanimous support from its Board of Governors, has decided to opt out of the Canada Wide Early Learning Child Care program (CWELCC). This decision was made after months of research, consultation and discussion with many parties, including other accredited Montessori schools. We are first and foremost a school, and are committed to the sustainability of our whole program, which serves children 18 months to 14 years of age. We are also committed to Montessori education because we strongly believe it provides children the best start in life.
