Our Approach to Ensure Wholesome Growth

Methodology and Practice

At Sprouts, we give children the opportunity to be in charge of their own learning, supported by our teachers (called Guides) and the environment. Each day, activities are presented in sequential order from easiest to hardest. We strive to set up activities that are just the right level for each child — challenging to master but not so difficult that they will give up. Our learning environment feels more like a home than a classroom, with careful preparation to ensure that each activity is as attractive as possible, and easily accessible to allow children the freedom to explore and learn. As educators, our objective is not to fill a child with facts, but instead to help them cultivate their own intrinsic desire to learn.

[Children] are intrinsically curious learners, if we allow them to be.

— Simone Davies

Children build a love for learning when they’re able to make discoveries on their own. We are always there to help when a child needs support, but we do our best not to get in the way of a child’s self-mastery. That isn’t to say that our education is completely hands-off. Our Guides carefully observe — continually making adjustments to the environment and activities in order to meet each child’s needs.

The Five Key Areas of Learning

There are five key areas of learning in our environment: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, and Culture.

Practical Life

Practical Life activities help children develop basic life skills such as dressing themselves or setting the table. The activities in this area are designed to help children with coordination, concentration, and self-awareness. Common Practical Life activities include food preparation, dressing, cleaning, and gardening. By completing these tasks on a daily basis, children learn how to take care of themselves and their environment. As a result, these activities provide a solid foundation for self confidence and success in later life.

Sensorial

Sensorial activities use the senses to explore the properties of materials such as texture or color. In this learning area, children are exposed to a wide range of sensory experiences, which help them develop their ability to discriminate between different textures, sounds, tastes, and patterns. For example, tactile boards help children learn about texture and temperature; and sound boxes teach children about pitch and volume. This area of learning is particularly important in early childhood, as it helps children to order, classify, and describe their observations and experiences.

Language

Language activities help children develop communication skills through games, stories, songs, and art projects. From an early age, children are exposed to a variety of language experiences that help them develop their communication skills and cultivate self-expression, both verbally and non-verbally. As they progress, these activities promote writing and reading later on. Ultimately, the Montessori approach to language learning helps children develop strong communication skills that they can use throughout their lives.

Mathematics

Mathematics activities introduce concepts such as numbers and shapes through concrete manipulatives and hands-on activities. In this learning area, children are exposed to mathematical concepts through a variety of materials. A hands-on approach helps children develop a strong foundation in number sense and operations. As they progress, children begin to use abstract reasoning to solve problems and to explore more complex concepts. This method of teaching mathematics is highly effective, and it has been shown to promote long-term success in this subject area.

Culture

Cultural activities expose children to different customs and traditions from around the world. This includes an understanding and appreciation of other cultures, as well as developing an understanding of one’s own culture. This area contains a wide range of cultural materials; including books, art, music, and crafts from around the world. Food and language experiences are also used to help children learn about the customs and beliefs of others. By exposure to these materials, children develop an appreciation for the beauty and diversity of the world.

The Five Key Areas of Learning

There are five key areas of learning in our environment: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, and Culture.

Practical Life

Practical Life activities help children develop basic life skills such as dressing themselves or setting the table. The activities in this area are designed to help children with coordination, concentration, and self-awareness. Common Practical Life activities include food preparation, dressing, cleaning, and gardening. By completing these tasks on a daily basis, children learn how to take care of themselves and their environment. As a result, these activities provide a solid foundation for self confidence and success in later life.

Sensorial

Sensorial activities use the senses to explore the properties of materials such as texture or color. In this learning area, children are exposed to a wide range of sensory experiences, which help them develop their ability to discriminate between different textures, sounds, tastes, and patterns. For example, tactile boards help children learn about texture and temperature; and sound boxes teach children about pitch and volume. This area of learning is particularly important in early childhood, as it helps children to order, classify, and describe their observations and experiences.

Language

Language activities help children develop communication skills through games, stories, songs, and art projects. From an early age, children are exposed to a variety of language experiences that help them develop their communication skills and cultivate self-expression, both verbally and non-verbally. As they progress, these activities promote writing and reading later on. Ultimately, the Montessori approach to language learning helps children develop strong communication skills that they can use throughout their lives.

Mathematics

Mathematics activities introduce concepts such as numbers and shapes through concrete manipulatives and hands-on activities. In this learning area, children are exposed to mathematical concepts through a variety of materials. A hands-on approach helps children develop a strong foundation in number sense and operations. As they progress, children begin to use abstract reasoning to solve problems and to explore more complex concepts. This method of teaching mathematics is highly effective, and it has been shown to promote long-term success in this subject area.

Culture

Cultural activities expose children to different customs and traditions from around the world. This includes an understanding and appreciation of other cultures, as well as developing an understanding of one’s own culture. This area contains a wide range of cultural materials; including books, art, music, and crafts from around the world. Food and language experiences are also used to help children learn about the customs and beliefs of others. By exposure to these materials, children develop an appreciation for the beauty and diversity of the world.

Sensitive Periods

When a child shows a particular interest in one area — for example, language or music — we call this a sensitive period. Through our observations, we are able to take note of when a child is in a sensitive period and provide appropriate activities which encourage growth in that area. Some common sensitive periods we look out for are:

Tiny detail;
Movement acquisition;
Sensorial exploration;
Language;
Order; and
Manners and courtesies.

Each child has their own developmental timeline, and learns in a way that is unique to them. Some children are visual, aural, tactile, or any combination. Some children like to repeat things, while others prefer learning from their peers. We respect each child’s unique way of learning, and support their individual development by observing current interests, and adapting our environment to promote success through self-mastery.