The most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to six.” – Maria Montessori
At Splendid Steps School, we are a joyful and vibrant community of educators and learners agreeing with Dr. Maria Montessori’s methodology and philosophy. We cultivate and honour children’s innate love for learning.
Infant Program: The infant program which is for pupils from 10 to 18 months establishes a first-time school experience away from home that is very engaging, warm, and trusting.
Toddler Classes: The toddler program is for pupils from 18 months to three years. The toddler classroom offers the toddlers a unique beginning of special understanding of the world around them. We follow the Montessori philosophy that encourages vocabulary development, independence and self- confidence for each child.
Children’s house (Nursery): In our classroom everything is geared to the need of the children. Pupils from aged 3- 6 are grouped together. The focus is on allowing the children to absorb information from an enriched environment. Critical skills of concentration, coordination and working habits are developed.
Elementary Program: The elementary program builds on our early childhood experience. Here, we emphasis on co-operative group work, social problem solving skills, and respect for individual differences. We operate a Nigerian curriculum in which we have integrated aspects of Montessori and the British Curriculum.
The Montessori Program
Practical Life – These exercise are designed to teach children to function in their environment, promoting order, concentration, coordination of movements, fine and gross motor skills. Children gain independence and self confidence as they learn to function in their surroundings without unnecessary aid. Students will learn to open, shut, carry, pour, peal, cut, and wash. In addition, they will learn polishing, scrubbing, the use of buttons, zippers, snaps, ties and latches. The child’s experiences will also include care of person and
Sensorial- the sensorial apparatus assists children in giving language to sensory experiences they have received since birth, learning to differentiate between sizes, colors, weights, forms textures, musical sounds, odors, and tastes refining the senses, developing skills in thinking, concentrating, comparing, and organizing, classifying and verbal reasoning. The materials used include sand paper in varying degrees of roughness, red rods, pink tower, cylinder blocks, colour tablets, geometric cabinet sound boxes, and bells.
Art – the art activities are designed to stimulate creativity and expression using a variety of materials, lessons and techniques using a focus on process as opposed to product.
Language/listening activities : prepare the child for auditory learning developing memory and critical thinking through daily participation in songs, finger plays and oral reading of books\9fictionand non-fiction) and poems.
Early Math – These activities develop the number of using concrete materials to count and examine quantities from 1-10, working towards the recognition of name of quantities and association with written symbols.
Math – Children gain the knowledge of quantities and the written numerical using concrete materials. Children progress according to their ability and developmental level. Lessons with more difficult concepts such as teens, counting to 100, the decimal system and the math facts are introduced as the previous skill has been mastered.
Early Language Activities – These lessons prepare the child to read by developing vocabulary, reception and use of spoken language, the concepts of spatial and temporal sequence, isolation of discreet letter sounds, and visual discrimination of forms and letters.
Reading Skills – these exercises are designed to strengthen and enrich vocabulary and introduce phonics and literature has whole language activities leading toward reading and comprehension of printed material.
Cultural Subjects – Science, geography and history lessons are presented using developmentally appropriate concrete activities designed for exploration, observation and discovery. Handwriting: Developmentally appropriate fine motor lessons are given to promote mechanical writing skills.