Our first and most important job is to scaffold your child to help create their own sense of self, intrinsic confidence and pride in their own abilities ad unique capabilities, learning empathy for others and become self solutions seekers as they navigate their world.
From toddlers to graduation at RMLC they will experience a holistic range of opportunities that caters to their individual needs and focuses.
We are a well resourced centre and incorporate a real focus on preparing your child for primary school and life beyond. Our aim is that they leave Riverhead Montessori with literacy, numeracy as well as emotional and social skills that will allow them to be independent learners in a larger primary school classroom.
At Riverhead Montessori the teacher serves as a guide. They observe the child and then prepare the environment by demonstrating the materials for learning or providing the tools to extend any learning moments or focuses the child may show an interest in.
The children work through practical life, care of self, others and the environment. Learning practical skills for life – pouring, sorting, tweezer and scissor work or any materials that help develop the fine motor skills and build the hand muscles required for writing
(the pincher grip).
This begins with the recognition of sounds of letters for literacy and eventually the skills of independent constructive sentence building, followed by independent reading and writing. Sensorial materials are used to help distinguish between size, volume and mass. We teach the concrete and abstract skills of numeracy, recognition of numbers and how to quantify, before moving to addition and subtraction.
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Using materials that provide different sensorial experiences ensures information can be assimilated through as many senses as possible, from vision to touch, to smell and taste.
Learn MoreScience, Geography and Cultural Studies actually begin at preschool with our understanding of the wider world and existence of objects, environment, places and people and the way they all interact. ‘Hands on’ experience allows children to experiment and explore. Using a wide range of materials and resources (including the children’s organic vegetable garden and fruit orchard for biology related projects!) we bring the sciences into everyday learning in inventive ways. Geography and history are introduced through montessori materials, books and music along with the children’s own projects and experiences from outside of the classroom.
Our outdoor curriculum is considered as important as our indoor programme. Great learning is achieved in the natural world. Here at RMLC all our tamariki enjoy a full immersive Indoor/Outdoor Programme
Learn MorePreparing food for others plays an important role in our curriculum and the children are encouraged to help prepare food in every session to share for morning and/or afternoon tea. Not only does this builds many skills but supports our strong programme of ‘Grace and Courtesy’.
Respect and caring for others underpins our whole culture at Riverhead Montessori. From the moment they arrive here the children are modelled respectful behaviour. They are taught to complete their work and return it to where it came from all ready for the next person. The children are encouraged to serve others by preparing food making each other fruit teas and sharing, creating friendship pins or drawings. Helping to keep their environment tidy by sweeping, mopping and cleaning the tables and dishes after they have used them.
Our comprehensive approach to the Arts is one we are incredibly proud of. We have individual works available in the practical life area for the children and a community art table with everything a budding artist needs to create a masterpiece. Our tamariki are encouraged to be as creative as they wish. They have access to a wide and changing array of materials.
Gluing, painting, construction, sewing, clay, play dough where ever their imagination take them we will provide the opoortunties. Children are free to work on their own or to collaborate on big group ideas-all child directed.
Our art appreciation materials are also part of our curriculum with children choosing to study disciplines from Matisse to Pollock, Picasso to Aboriginal and Maori cultural art. Many renditions of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers and Colin McCahon’s ‘Hills’ have adorned our walls over the years. Music is another area of the Arts that we place a huge focus on, with an array of instruments and specialist instruction on hand to develop our children's’ understanding and musical abilities and enjoyment of all kinds of music from classical to tribal to folk and pop and rock . Often we have afternoon dance parties- a huge hit.