An Independent Boston Day School for Students in Toddler–Sixth Grade
Academics
Early Childhood
Toddler Program
The Montessori Toddler Curriculum supports the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development of the child. The teachers create a nurturing, inviting, and orderly setting in the classroom referred to as the “prepared environment” to help guide this development. The activities in this environment lead the child to build order, coordination, independence, sensory motor skills, socialization skills, self-esteem, inner security, and habits of concentration. In the Kingsley Toddler Program, the developmental stages of Toddler life are supported through these curriculum areas:
Practical Life
Activities that promote the growth toward independent self-care, including cooking, cleaning, and the care of the physical environment.
Sensorial
Activities for discrimination of the senses, including taste, smell, hand to mind, and movement of the physical body in space.
Language
Opportunities for communication, including telling and listening to stories, singing, creating music and art, and engaging specialized language materials that promote language learning.
Freedom of Movement
Occasions for gross and fine motor activities including dancing, movement, finger plays, yoga as well as moving and interacting with the learning environment.
Independence
Opportunities for children to make choices, work collaboratively and independently, explore their classroom environment freely, and express their curiosity.
Peace Education
The Toddler program incorporates peace education into all aspects of the curriculum. From greeting one another with a handshake or a smile, to tasting foods from many cultures, the youngest members of the Kingsley community have many opportunities to hear the language of peace and see the teacher role model respectful and peaceful interactions with other people. The Montessori principles of Grace and Courtesy are practiced at all times. To the best of their ability, the Toddler children clean up after themselves, prepare and serve their own snacks, help one another and use language that is courteous and respectful.
A Day In The Life
At Kingsley, we keep a simple routine to help young children feel confident and secure. Once a week students also enjoy Co-Curricular classes in Art, Library, and Music, and twice each year we take field trips to somewhere special.
Arrival: Arrive at school and welcome the day! Shake hands and say hello. Hang up jacket and put belongings away.
Work Time: This is where purposeful learning takes place as the child practices the work cycle. The work cycle is when the child freely chooses or is guided towards a work from the shelf, receives a lesson or explores the work, and returns the work back to the shelf.
Snack: Snack is available for the children and they serve themselves independently. They prepare the snack. Pour water into cups. Slice bananas into sections. Put food on plates. Enjoy and then clean up.
Group Activities/Circle Time: Learn a new song or dance. Listen to stories together. Dig a really big hole in the sandbox or climb the wall in the Movement Room. Try a new food together.
Dismissal: Teachers support children to change their shoes, gather their belongings, and shake hands as they are dismissed to go home.