Montessori Programs
Students in preschool through grade six use the incredible Montessori materials in their learning. In a warm and caring environment WHS encourages a high quality of work, thought, mastery of content and skill. Students are able to progress at their optimal pace. WHS is dedicated to teaching children the learning skills necessary for success in life including a love of work, the ability to concentrate and self-discipline.
Preschool Curriculum and Program
Wider Horizons Preschool classrooms follow the Montessori tradition in a multi- aged group of children age three through five. The preschool classrooms are large, with many windows for natural light. There are two bathrooms in each classroom. There are two sinks and a drinking fountain. The room is edged with low shelving units that house a myriad of materials for the children to use during the work periods. The specific areas of the classroom are: practical life, language, math, sensorial, cultural studies including science, geography, history, music and art.
Circle time is a class gathering to sing, welcome a new student, listen to a story, watch a presentation of new material, have a lesson, observe a science experiment, participate in cooking or play some games.
The classroom is organized around the principles of success building self-competence in the children. The materials are created to help the children achieve success when using them. This is a respectful environment between teacher and student as well as towards the classroom materials.
Superimposed upon the daily work activities is a unit of study that usually lasts from a week to a month. Some of the topics studies are animals of land and sea, birds, the seashore, insects, holidays, the farm, trees and plants, other cultures and many other topics. Children are involved in active learning activities.