Programs – Excellence Academy

The foundation of Excellence Academy begins in the Primary classroom, with 3- to 6-year-old children. This program develops the children’s awareness of the world and themselves in a nurturing and caring environment. Children explore their environment through independent work and free choice, while being guided and challenged by the teacher in their classroom. This program is offered to children ages 3 to 6 years and is from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Interested parents may also inquire about our 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. program

EA teaches specific subject areas using materials and techniques involving the five senses of the children. Through the senses, the child becomes aware of his/her environment. The five basic senses include: visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, and olfactory. Based on the five senses, the Montessori philosophy extended the senses to include: chromatic (color), baric (weight), thermic (temperature), stereognostic (muscular and tactile), kinesthetic (visual and tactile), and equilibrium and direction. Children refine their senses in this particular area of the classroom by working with didactic materials that focus and isolate one particular sense at a time.

The students move gradually from concrete to abstract learning, thus grounding their understanding in first-hand experience. Cognitive science confirms that concepts with strong sensory associations are rooted more deeply in the brain. We find Maria Montessori’s words in line with this as well: “First the education of the senses, then the education of the intellect.”

Subject Areas:

Practical Life

As a Montessori school, EA does not only teach knowledge for the intellect, but also how one should take care of himself and his surroundings. The purpose of the Practical Life area is for the child to develop the skills necessary for use in their daily life to cultivate order, coordination, concentration, independence, and physical strength. It has three main areas:

Care of Person: Hygiene, dress, preparing and eating food, fine and gross motor skills
Care of Environment: Housekeeping, care of animals and plants
Care of World: Social skills, grace and courtesy, community, aesthetics, and spirituality which includes teaching students duas (prayers) for daily activities.

Language

In a Montessori classroom, mathematics is taught through a concrete approach that allows the child to naturally move to the abstract through use of the materials. Each mathematics material isolates the concept being taught to the child and the child to discover. In order to reveal the functions and concepts, it is not for the directress to illustrate or explain them, but for the child to use the materials to discover the concept.

Mathematics

Cultural

The child develops his awareness of space by learning the elements that make up the physical Earth. He or she learns the continents and countries using puzzle maps, and the solar system using orbital models. The child also gains respect of other cultures by learning about their clothing, food, and way of life.

History

The child develops his awareness of time by using calendars and timelines and then learning the timeline of natural history, history of the Prophets, and the seerah of the Prophet (pbuh).

Natural Science

Our natural science program grounds children with a fundamental understanding of matter and life and that God created both. Students learn to classify solids, liquids and gasses by working with them. They witness the miracle of life emerging from soil. Practical exercises further allow children to explore properties like magnetism, flotation, and translucence.

Arabic

EA offers both Arabic and Quran programs. Students are taught Arabic as a language where they are taught reading, writing and comprehension. Also, students memorize the Quran with understanding for the purpose of application.