MONTESSORI PROGRAMMES at SIKSHA
		The programme at Siksha focuses on the development of learning abilities in the pre-schoolers. The emphasis is on enabling the child to imbibe and develop the qualities and skills needed to progress to the next level in his/her relationship with the environment and people. The programme spans five distinct areas that constitute the prepared environment for the child. Practical Life introduces the child to task organization and cognitive order through exercises such as pouring, polishing, spooning and buttoning. The child develops concentration, muscular coordination and a sense of order. This area also aids in learning care of self, care of the environment, control of movement and social relations. This area is the foundation for subsequent academic learning because it provides: A SENSE OF ORDER - a task's beginning, middle and end. A SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE - "I can do it by myself" A SENSE OF COORDINATION - The child brings his/her muscles under his/her own control Most important of all, an ability to concentrate, because learning can only occur when concentration is present. Sensorial Life utilizes specially designed sensorial material to develop the physical sense and the powers of observation. This area enables the child to gain an understanding of: TASTE - sweet, sour, salty, bitter, etc. HEARING - pitch, tone, loud and soft, etc. SIGHT - long and short, broad and narrow, small and large, geometric shapes, etc. TOUCH - smooth and rough, hot and cold, heavy and light, etc. SMELL - spices, herbs, flower scents, etc. Mathematics is introduced to the child through concrete, manipulative terms that enable him/her to understand the basic concepts. More abstract forms are then used as the child progresses from numbers, quantity numerals to concepts such as place values. As the child progresses, he/she starts working with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division using specially designed materials. The emphasis is on understanding that on rote learning. Language spans every area of the programme though it is included in the basic skills. It encompasses verbal skills, visual perception and small muscle coordination. Beginning with listening games, training the hand with puzzles, the child is familiarized with the alphabets. Specially designed materials enable the child to gain an understanding of how separate sounds combine together to form words. This area helps in oral language development, written expression, reading and grammar. Enrichments are an introduction to the basic elements of our world - land, air and water. At first, the children use large wooden puzzle maps of the continents. As they learn the names of the continents, and then move on to maps of countries. This is followed by a gradual learning about climate, people and products.