Toddler Program

The Discovery School’s Toddler Program is based on Montessori principles and philosophy. Our nurturing and beautiful environments encourage children to explore with all their senses, gain independence and confidence, develop friendships, and begin to realize they can make valuable contributions that impact others.

Day in the Life of a Toddler Student

Toddler Enrichments

Discovery is pleased to offer an assortment of enrichment classes that help supplement our core programming. Toddler enrichments include Spanish, music, and library.

The Discovery Toddler Community is a prepared environment for children aged 18 months to 3 years old. It is designed to assist the child toward independence, social awareness, respect, and the development of motor skills and language.

Maria Montessori asserted that human beings develop with the greatest intensity during the first three years of life; therefore, the toddler classrooms are prepared to provide nurturing, security, and challenge in an orderly environment. The maximum number of children in each toddler class is twelve, with one lead teacher and one associate teacher.

The beginning of the school year brings the parent and child together until the child feels trust to positively separate from the parent. Only then may the child independently attend an environment especially set up for his/her developmental needs.

Toddler Montessori Framework

Social/Emotional

A foundation of education is an environment filled with respect. Our teachers respect students’ development, abilities, and potential. Our classrooms promote:

Development of social values and skills to positively navigate social interactions.
Opportunities to gain independence and self-confidence.
Children’s recognition of their ability to positively impact others.

Language

Linguistic, auditory, and visual development provide the basis for expressive speech, receptive language, and later reading. Our classrooms promote:

Language development through conversation, songs, rhymes, spoken social graces, Phonemic exploration, and books.
Experiences supporting visual and auditory development

To enhance the language experience in the Toddler classroom, Spanish enrichment is part of the program.

Math

The foundation for math begins with exposure and exploration of manipulative materials, games and activities, shapes, numerals and quantities, and related language. Our classrooms promote:

Exploration of spatial relationships and basic geometry through work with blocks and other materials
Growing comprehension of a symbol and its relationship to the corresponding quantity
Growing understanding of basic concepts such as ‘same and different, ‘some and all', ‘bigger and smaller, ‘longer and shorter’, ‘many and few.’

Science

The curriculum provides opportunities to become aware of the natural world. Hands-on exploration leads to learning the basics of biology, weather, physics, and botany. Our classrooms promote:

Exploration of the natural world with a significant time outdoors
An understanding of the natural environment through hands-on work with recycling, composting, and gardening.

Physical Development

Gross motor, fine motor, and sensory-motor development occur naturally when given the appropriate opportunities at each developmental stage. Our classrooms promote:

Gross motor activities such as running, jumping, balancing, throwing, and climbing.
Fine motor activities including coloring, painting, pouring, scooping, manipulating clay, and using different types of utensil.
A growing awareness of safety, health, and nutrition.

Practical Life/Self Care

The Practical Life curriculum encompasses the care of their environment and care of the person. These invaluable lessons provide toddlers with a foundation of skills that lead to independence and self-confidence. Our classrooms promote:

Opportunities for independent self-care.
Independent work choices, the development of concentration, and working through challenges.
Care of the environment, involving food preparation, pet care, sweeping, raking, dusting, and mopping.

Sensorial

Cultural Studies

Montessori Lesson Videos

Lifecycle of a Butterfly

Sink or Float

Scavenger Hunt

Magnets

Specific goals for the toddler program are as follows:

To assist the child in a positive separation from parents in order to facilitate individuation.
To provide an orderly environment in which toddlers may explore and experience concepts and skills through manipulation.
To provide a language-rich environment through precise nomenclature, books, nursery rhymes, and music.
To give the child opportunities for practical life - care of the self and environment - so that the child understands that each person has an important function. This encourages a positive self-concept and confidence.
To provide a social environment for the fostering of community and respect.
To create an aesthetic environment through art work and objects from nature that call to the child's love of beauty.
To encourage a supportive community for parents through education and participation.

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