Casa Program
3 to 6 Years Old (Pre-school, JK, SK)
Casa refers to a Montessori preschool program derived from Dr. Montessori's first class, called “Casa dei Bambini” or “Children's House”. Casa classrooms are prepared with a broad range of carefully selected and attractive learning materials for use of our children and staff. These materials are divided into five major areas of curriculum: Practical Life, Sensorial, Mathematics, Language and Culture. Our childcare program for children aged 3 to 6 years old promotes independence, creativity and stimulates children's natural curiosity.
Our early childhood Casa program supplements the regular early childhood curriculum for our 3 to 6 year olds. Children in our Casa program engage in a full Montessori curriculum. Our prepared environment is full with activities which are attractive and interesting to the children and that give them clear messages on how to succeed. Educators design work which builds eye-hand coordination, manual dexterity, concentration and self-reliance. Important pre-reading and writing skills and basic math concepts are introduced in individual and group lessons at a pace which is developmentally appropriate for each child.
Our school goal is to nurture and encourage each child's natural love of learning.
The Five areas of our Preschool Montessori Program
- Practical Life: This is where your child develops everyday life skills, social graces and fine and gross motor control. This area also promotes detailed attention to many tasks.
- Sensory Area: This area helps to develop your child’s senses and awareness of the world around them through the use of specialized materials designed to isolate individual qualities such as colour, size, shape, weight, texture and more. This is a very “hands on” area, each activity involving the whole world.
- Language Area: The Montessori Language Program is a phonetic based approach to language development. The Montessori child essentially “teaches” him or herself to read through learning the phonetic sounds.
- Mathematics: We begin to teach your child math with manipulatives, then slowly lead into abstract concepts. Beginning with numbers 1-10, 11- 99 and 1 -1000, the children learn linear counting and recognition of numerals. This then leads into addition, subtraction, multiplication and division concepts.
- Cultural Area: This area introduces your child to the world beyond the classroom to give them a sense of global awareness and geography. We also explore Botany, Zoology, and Science in this area. Art and Music activities are also included and are encouraged to be an individual expression where we promote experimentation. The children gather in a group every day to listen to stories, sing or play special games.
* please note that the Casa class is provided with two healthy snacks daily as well as nutritious catered lunches.
Interested in the CASA program?
A Typical Day in the Montessori Academy Casa Room
Program Hours:
- Program Hours
8:30am – 5:30pm
Max. Class size: 24 children
Ratio: 1 teacher to every 8 children according to CCEYA
The expected outcomes of our Casa program are:
- Increase knowledge and vocabulary
- Increase of independence from new skills and competencies
- Development of patience and the ability to share
- Internalization of symbol systems: language and math
- Increase of Self Discipline
- Development of good work habits
- Ability to choose and make decisions
- Care and respect for the environment and others
- Linear / Logical thinking
- Develop the ability to sustain interest
8:00am-9:30am: Arrival, Snacks, Exploring Prepared Environment
Good Morning! We welcome our children to another day of learning and exploring. It is time to give your little one a kiss and a cuddle at the door, before saying goodbye. Children enjoy free playtime while remaining under our educators' close care. Our days always start with a nutritious snacks for the children.
9:30am-10:30am Montessori Curriculum
The early morning is time for our infants to explore and work with the Montessori materials around the room. Teachers will often present the children with a material, allowing them to explore and experience it in detail. The most popular curriculum areas in the infant class include practical life, sensorial and language.
10:30am-11:30am Outdoor Time:
Children engage in outdoor play in the dedicated infant playground. Our educators carefully prepare the infant outdoor learning environment to encourage the children to learn and develop new skills every day.
11:30am-12:30pm Lunch: Working hard is hungry work! The educators seat the children at the family-style table set up, prepare water bottles, and place bibs on the children. Each child's eating habits are documented for review by their parents. Staff also provide milk bottles and accommodate each child’s needs as requested.
12:30pm-2:30pm Nap / Rest Time: In our daycare facilities, babies enjoy a scheduled nap time after lunch; however, we are happy to work around any sleeping schedule. Each child has their own cot, and we encourage our families to bring their own bed sheets when possible, and a comforter for their little one to snuggle with. Soft music plays while we put the babies’ down to rest, and any unsettled children are rocked to sleep.
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Afternoon snack and outdoor prep: It’s time for afternoon snacks. Staff change the children’s diapers, and provide afternoon snacks. Once snack time is finished, it is time to get ready to go outside and explore the outdoors again.
3:30pm-4:30pm Outdoor Time: Outdoor play changes every day. We have a sandbox, a playhouse, a variety of toy cars, and other many age appropriate toys for the children. The staff enjoy blowing bubbles and watching the children react with surprise when they pop. The playground is secured with a fence and staff closely monitor the children.
4:30pm-5:30pm Afternoon activities: Children in our after hours daycare service enjoy a snack and free play.
* Frequent diaper changes and washroom routines are scheduled throughout the day for the children. Additionally, our Educators regularly check if your child requires an extra diaper change.