Language
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| *Toddlers vocabularies are rapidly expanding; they can learn new words quickly and easily, acquiring as much as 50 words a month. The language area of the classroom fosters this language explosion by providing them with pictures and materials to label and start conversations. Early literacy skills are fostered as children are exposed to a print rich environment, observing the purpose of print and the pleasure it offers. |
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| Language Materials |
Early Literacy and Math |
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Objects
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Pictures
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Puzzles
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Books
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Colors
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Shapes
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Sand paper letters*
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Sand paper numbers*
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| *These materials are presented when children display the fine motor coordination to trace the letters and number, begin to show an awareness of the difference between print and illustration and an interest in the message print carries. |
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Sensorial |
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| Toddlers learn about their world by exploring with their senses. Maria Montessori observed that children use the information from their environment to provide a frame work for organizing and categorizing information. The sensorial materials allow children to explore and refine with their senses, while classifying and grading materials allow them to internalize a sense of order. |
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| Olfactory Sense |
Tactile Sense |
- Scent jars
- Matching by Scent
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- Matching
- Sorting
- Grading
- Posting
- Puzzles
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| Visual Sense |
Auditory Sense |
- Matching by texture
- Rough and smooth board
- Contrasting hard and soft surfaces
- found in the classroom
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- Musical instruments
- Shakers
- Sound cylinders
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Practical Life |
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| The practical life materials in the Montessori Toddler environment allow the children numerous opportunities to develop self help skills that in turn foster self efficacy and the refinement of motor skills. Actives that encourage the children to take care of the environment teach the importance of respecting each other, other living things and other objects in their environment. The practical life materials develop toddler’s hand strength, pincer grasp (thumb to forefinger and middle finger), hand eye coordination and concentration. In addition, children begin to develop early literacy skills as the practical life materials prepare them for the task or reading and writing by utilizing top to bottom, left to right and clockwise motions. |
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| Care of Self |
Care of the Environmente |
- Hand washing
- Food preparation
- Toileting
- Independence in dressing
- Dressing Frames
o Velcro frame
o Zipper frame
o Button frame
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- Sweeping
- Moping
- Window washing
- Table washing
- Watering plants
- Feeding pets
- Flower arranging
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| Fine Motor Development |
Gross Motor Development |
- Hammering activity
- Beading
- Sewing
- Nut and bolt activity
- Transfer
o Finger transfers
o Dry pouring
o Spooning
o Tong activity
o Sponge squeezing
o Water pouring
o Funneling activity
o Eye dropper transfer
- Opening and closing containers
- Burlap unraveling
- Clothes pin activity
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- Climbing structure
Maximum effort jars
Full body transfers
Walking on the line
Carrying materials
Mat activities
Chair activities
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| Grace and Courtesy |
- Table manners
- Saying please, thank you and excuse
- me
- Waiting for turn
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Art |
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| The art area of the Montessori toddler environment allows for further exploration with the senses as children experiment with different art media, refine their gross and fine motor skills and express themselves creatively.
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- Painting on an easel
- Stickers
- Gluing
- Cutting
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