Infant / Toddler Program

Age Group: 3 months to 18 months
Teacher/Child Ratio: 1:4

Teachers:

Head Teacher: Ms. Esperanza	Support Staff: Ms. Mala

Support Staff: Ms. Lupe	Support Staff: Ms. Maria

Ms. Esperanza's background:
Education: Intro to Child Development, Infant / Toddler, Child, Family & Community, Human Growth and Development

Teaching Experience: Ms. Esperanza has been employed with DeLor since 1996 and prior to that she worked for 5 years in an Infant / Toddler Program in Cupertino

Special Interests: Cooking, Tennis, Volleyball, Good Mom to two grown boys

Goals and Objectives:
In this program the caregivers focus on the daily needs of the child as well as exposing them to the different areas of the classroom. Since most children at this age are exploring the world through their senses, many of the activities included in the classroom encourage this. We also focus on vocabulary development to encourage speech, by naming simple objects in their environment with picture cards and objects. Although it is often observed that children are in "parallel play" at this age, there are many opportunities for the children to interact with one another and encourage social development. Their day also includes art & crafts, music time, story time and walks through Serra Park.

Infant / Toddler Schedule

Pre-Primary Program

Teachers:

Head Teacher: Ms. Ulka	Support staff: Ms. Monica

Ms. Ulka's background:
Education: BSc Home Science majored in Child Development.

Teaching Experience: One year internship in nursery school and worked as assistant teacher at Montessori DeLor's infant and toddler classes for three years before becoming head teacher for the transition class in 2004.

Special Interests: cooking, gardening, sewing and knitting.

Goals and Objectives:
The children from our Infant/Toddler program usually transition into this program between 18-24 months based on readiness. We begin to introduce the Montessori work time at this age, giving them opportunities to work in the various learning areas including: language, math, science, practical life. and art. This classroom encourages more independence allowing them to hang up their own jackets, sit at a table (that is just their size) for lunch and practical life, and put their belongings into their cubbies when they are done with them. We also begin the toilet training process in this class. As soon as the parents have initiated the process at home, then we will support that by continuing it at school as well. We ask that once the toilet training process is started that training pants be used. Their day also includes story time, arts & crafts, music, and outdoor playtime. Once the child has been successful at the toilet training and shows the readiness, both emotionally and socially, the child will transition into the Primary 1 class.

Pre-Primary Schedule

Primary 1 Program

Teachers:

Head Teacher: Ms. May	Support staff: Ms. Shannon
Support staff: Ms. Yessica	Support staff: Ms. Nancy

Ms. May's background:
Education: Montessori training.

Teaching Experience: nursing experience.

Special Interests: dancing and music.

Goals and Objectives:
In the Primary 1 class, we have children between the ages of 24 to 36 months who are working toward being fully potty trained and independent in daily tasks (dressing themselves, sleeping, and eating). Throughout the academic year, the children are presented with letter sounds, number recognition, size discrimination, and shape recognition. We also cover monthly themes in which a subject is chosen and is discussed throughout the month. There is also a concentration on developing the child's fine motor development through a variety of Montessori activities (jobs) such as pouring, using tongs & tweezers, bead stringing and working with metal insets. This preparation is to provide them with the muscular development that is needed to begin writing. The child's social and emotional development is also maturing in this class as they are confronted with focused circle times involving lessons and participation interacting with their peers, following directions, and problem solving. The children enjoy the curriculum and hold a strong desire to learn. In accomplishing tasks, they continue to search for a challenge while their independence is maturing and encouraged.

Primary 1 Schedule

Primary 2 Program

Teachers:

Head Teacher: Ms. Priti	Support staff: Ms. Josie
Support staff: Ms. Rosie

Ms. Priti's background:
Education: B.A. and a Masters in Psychology. Diploma in special education and mental retardation. Doing Montessori training.

Teaching Experience: has been teaching at Delor for 4 years.

Special Interests: like to know new cultures, know Yoga, and meditation.

Goals and Objectives:
"Children in the Primary 2 classroom are argued by the laws of their nature to find active experiences in the world about them. For this, they use their hands, and not only for practical purposes, but also for acquiring knowledge. If we leave children free in this new kind of environment that we have provided, they give us quite an unexpected impression of their nature and abilities. They seem to be happier and they have such deep interests that they can work for long periods of time without fatigue. As a result, their minds seem to open out and they become eager for knowledge. " - Maria Montessori, The Montessori Method. The only expectation, we have of the children in the Primary 2 classroom is that they leave the class feeling independent and self-confident. We want them to feel happy, safe, secure and have an eagerness to learn. We believe that having an environment that is prepared for them and teachers that nourish their excitement will encourage social, emotional, and academic growth. If we follow the child, we will always make the right choice and everything seems to fall right into place.

Primary 2 Schedule

Pre-K / Kindergarten Program

Teachers:

Head Teacher: Ms. Debra McKinley	Support staff: Mr. Alex

Ms. Debbie's background:
Education: Completed her Montessori Training with N.C.M.E. San Diego. Holds an AA Degree in E.C.E in a local Montessori School. In 1983 to 1985 she ran an Infant / Toddler Program in San Jose.

Teaching Experience: Ms. Debbie has been teaching at DeLor since 1986. She also helped start a Toddler Program. She has been working with children in some capacity since 1979.

Goals and Objectives:
The Pre-K / Kindergarten classroom is run using the Montessori method. The children are encouraged to explore all learning areas. The teacher will guide each child, challenging them with the next level of difficulty. It is my primary goal to make sure that the children are self-directed, enthusiastic learners. I want their first experiences with school to be fun, engaging, creative, and fullfilling. I will present materials in Reading, Science and Geography, Practical Life, Math, Writing and Sensorial. I believe that by allowing the children in my classroom the freedom to explore all of the learning areas they will show me what they are ready for. Each child is seen as an individual and academics are presented as such.

Pre-K / K Schedule

School Administration

Director: Ms. Lori McGeoy	Kindergarten Director: Ms. Debra McKinley

Ms. Lori's background:
Lori McGeoy was introduced to the Montessori Philosophy in 1979 and has been teaching in Montessori classrooms since 1979. She received her A.A. in Early Childhood Development from De Anza College in Cupertino, CA. She received her Primary Montessori training at the Montessori Training Center of San Diego which is affiliated with the National Center for Montessori Education (N.C.M.E.). Following her Montessori training she received her B.A. in the Social Sciences with a concentration in Child Development from San Jose State University in San Jose, CA.

Ms. Debbie's background:
Debra McKinley began her Montessori career in 1976 and in 1978 received her A.A. in Early Childhood Development from De Anza College in Cupertino, CA. Her Montessori training was done at the Montessori Training Center of San Diego which is affiliated with the National Center for Montessori Education (N.C.M.E.). In 1982 she used her training to set up the Infant/Toddler program for Enchanted Land Montessori in San Jose, CA where she was Director until 1985. As a mother of three, her experience extends past the classroom and into the home.