A child’s lifetime love affair with learning starts here.
The Learning Experience
Something wonderful happens when you place curious minds in a nurturing environment. Our educators create an environment where everything that children touch, see and hear teaches them valuable skills. A simple toy can foster friendship, develop motor skills, and hone cognition. We help develop a sense of confidence and community, so children can shine as global citizens who love to learn.
The method based on Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori’s intensely research-based curriculum encourages students to choose from a variety of activities in a “prepared environment”. The prepared environment also offers an uninterrupted work cycle and freedom of movement.
In an Under 2 environment, a child under two years of age may be matching language objects to nomenclature cards or working on self-help and independence. In an Under 3 environment, a child under three years of age may be washing dishes by hand or labelling items using their stereognostic sense. In a Casa classroom, a three-year-old may be washing clothes by hand while a four-year-old may be composing words from a movable alphabet, and a five-year-old may be solving multiplication equations using specially designed beads.
The Montessori method enables the children to discover the joy of learning while challenging them to develop and grow on many fronts. Some of the skills that are enhanced are literacy, numeracy, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, logic and reasoning, gross and fine motor, social, and so much more. Children are loved and challenged in equal measure. They experience an education that makes a positive impact throughout their lives!
The Under 2 curriculum is focused on stable routines as well as fun, safe and secure learning environments. This is achieved through nurturing child-teacher relationships as well as engaging and challenging activities suited to each child’s skills sets, energy levels, temperaments and special interests. With our ratio of four teachers per ten children under two years of age, we are able to take the time to learn about the special qualities of each child and use what we learn to nurture and encourage each child’s development.
The curriculum of our Under 3 community changes as the needs of the children change.True to Montessori principles, children and teachers focus on personal empowerment, independence, self-esteem, compassion and respect for others. Developing a strong sense of “other esteem” helps foster balance and harmony in society and oneself. Our communities are very proud to be the first accredited Toddler Montessori programs in Canada.
Children engage in “challenging work” each day during a three hour work cycle in order to develop a large range of skills including reading, writing, mathematics, science literacy and geography. Children develop skills for a lifelong love of education, concentration, independent thinking, problem solving and a love of learning. We are deeply aware of each child’s interests and accomplishments and are always watching for the moment when someone is ready to leap into new material.
Parents of Casa children are invited to take part in biannual Parent-Teacher Conferences. Before the conferences, each individual parent can sign up to come into the classroom as a silent observer. The Conferences then allow both parties to consult on the child’s progress as well as afford parents the opportunity to raise questions, concerns, and share deeper insights on how our practices are resonating with different families.
Our Teachers (and what some of the kids have to say about them!)
“She’s funny and I love to do activities with her.” – D.
Brittany
June
Kalsang
Kimberly
Laura
“Laura always gives a big hug and she tells me that she loves me.” M. (age 5)
Leah
Nicole
Raquel
“I love Raquel because she teaches me lots of things.” L. (age 6)
Sonia
Susanna
Vicky
Abeba
“My daughter often talks about laughing and singing with Beba. It is so wonderful how much joy and enthusiasm she shares in the infant room.”
Austin
“Austin tells good stories!” A. (age 4)
“I like the way Austin draws us pictures”. M. (age 5)
Cassius
“I like building a CN tower (with Cassius).” B. (age 3.5)
Clara
“Watching them take their first steps in life as they grow and getting to experience their milestones makes everyday special”
-Anonymous
Dianne
“I like to rock babies” (with Dianne). H. (age 23 months)
“I like to wipe babies” (with Dianne). H. (age 23 months)
Dondrub
“Dondrub, I will miss you a lot when I’m not at school. You’re the best teacher in the world!” A. (age 5)
Florence
“She gives me a broccoli (hair updo)” B. (age 2.5)
“I love you Florence, you’re so pretty” B. (age 2.5)
Gillian
“I like to dance with Gillian” A. (age 4)
“I like to do art” with Gillian A. (age 4)
Jennifer
“My child enjoys Jen’s puppet play, especially ‘Five Green and Speckled Frogs'”
Kinsi
“My daughter is always talking about ‘Maka’ (Monica) and ‘Kiki’ (Kinsi).”
Melanie
Melanie
“I like to play ball” (with Melanie). A. (age 2.5)
Monica
“I like to do art with Monica”. R. (age 3.25)
“Basketball with Monica”. S. (age 2.5)
Monica
“My daughter is always talking about ‘Maka’ (Monica) and ‘Kiki’ (Kinsi).”
Qing
“I like to play ball with you” B. (age 2.5)
Vanessa
“I like to read books with Vanessa” M. (age 3)
“I like to dance and sing with you” P. (age 3)
Antonietta
“Antonietta teaches me about the solar system.” K. (age 6)
“Antonietta makes me happy when she gives me a hug.” C. (Casa)
Brittany
Brittany
Christine
Donna
“I like Donna because she plays dinosaurs with me.” J. (Casa)
“She helps me with pink box (short phonetic words) a lot.” F. (Casa)
Jampa
Julia
Michelle
Rachelle
“I like it when Rachelle does circle.” I. (Casa)
“I like it when Rachelle tells stories.” N. (Casa)
Regine
“She teaches me so many things. Both our favourite colours are turquoise and teal.” M. (Casa)
Shannon
Sue
Tiffany
Tina
Amalia
“I like to draw with Amalia.” B. (age 3.5)
“I like to play ball (with Amalia).” F. (age 2.5)
Aoife
Elizabeth
“I love reading books with Elizabeth.” S. (age 3)
“I like to play with her outside.” B. (age 2)
Hannah
Madelaine
“Children want the same things we want. To laugh, to be challenged, to be entertained and delighted.”
-Dr. Seuss
Melissa
“Only those who look with the eyes of children can lose themselves in the object of their wonder”
-Eberhard Arnold
Michelle
“When educating the minds of our youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts”
-Dalai Lama
Michelle
Nancy
“They may forget what you said but they will not forget how you made them feel”
Carl W. Buehner
Nusrat
Rani
Rocio
Sandrine
“Children learn and listen more willingly when they are met with kindness, empathy and patience; when their core needs for connection or attachment is met.” – Vince Gowmon
Sheikha
“I am almost 8 years old now and I come and visit my sister and brother still. Sheikha was one of my favourite teachers because she is funny and kind.” B.
