Routine is fundamental in creating a stable environment for learning and play, and at Kohimarama Montessori Preschool we believe that the earlier you start, the better. Our youngest students are two years old and benefit from the colourful, creative, and structured environment our school provides to develop their motor abilities, make friendships, and learn essential social skills for a confident and happy life.
“The goal of early childhood education should be to activate the child’s own natural desire to learn.”
-Montessori
More parents than ever before are choosing to reap the full benefit of the Montessori Method by keeping students in preschool until they turn six: When the youngest children have grown up to become leaders of their classroom community, they gain great satisfaction in being able to guide the newest students on their own personal journey. Even at such a young age, the shift from student to teacher builds their confidence through an opportunity they likely will not experience again for significant time once in primary school.
About the centre
Kohimarama Montessori Preschool is situated in a quiet suburb of the Eastern Bays of Auckland and offers its students a setting in which they can gain independence and confidence while they discover and learn.
A safe and secure environment is integral to children’s ability to focus, absorb and retain knowledge. For this to happen, children need to have regular contact with familiar, trusted adults, to socialise with other children that they know, and have predictable, established daily routines that create a stable framework for learning.
Children under 3 years are able to attend morning sessions initially, while children over 3 years attend a full day programme (8:45-3:30). An extended day is available if required (8:00-4:30).
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”
-Aristotle
The indoor environment is calm and orderly so that children can reach a state of deep focus on their selected activities, building concentration for more complex future studies. There is a minimum of one teacher for every 7 students, and each teacher takes opportunities to concentrate on a single student or a small group at a time to discover each child’s current interests and abilities and offer them new, enticing choices as they are ready to progress.
The large, private outdoor area offers a place where children can exercise and play in safety. By growing plants and vegetables, students learn about the world around them through their nurture and care of their environment.
Programme
Make these precious years of abundant possibility and imagination count through the tailored classroom experience at Kohimarama Montessori Preschool. Our students are given the best of the Montessori Method seamlessly integrated with the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum Te Whaariki to prepare them for their transition to primary school with confidence. Along the journey, each day is filled with fun and excitement to encourage their natural desire to discover and grow.
Preschool is the best time to pick up a second language, and Tikanga Maori and Te Reo Maori are incorporated throughout the whole programme along with the stories and culture that form Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique identity.
The Montessori classroom is designed for the child’s accessibility: Tables and chairs are lightweight to be moved around, and the shelves where teaching materials and toys are stored are all placed at the height of the child. Because of this, each student is put in charge of his or her education while teachers act as observers and guides to introduce new concepts and activities when the child is eager for a greater challenge.
- The greatest goals for our teachers is to instil in our students:
- Independence
- Self-confidence
- High self-esteem
- Positive social interactions
- A life-long love of learning, and
- Acknowledgement and celebration of the diverse cultural backgrounds of the children attending our centre.
The Montessori philosophy is a way of being – when school ends, Montessori life still carries on at home! Children learn practical life skills such as sweeping, mopping, and tidying away to take pride in making a clean environment ready for the next activity. A fun and engaging learning environment fosters the same desire for independent self-study outside of the familiar classroom setting.
Taking care of oneself and one’s surroundings is encouraged in fostering a child’s independence, while learning respect for self and others through the example provided by teachers, older peers, and parents.
The curriculum and teaching methods at Kohimarama Montessori Preschool are not just designed for educational success, but to make each spirit soar.
