Montessori Philosophy
“The most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six.”
— Maria Montessori
The Montessori Method is founded on Maria Montessori’s educational philosophy. Her basic principle was to “follow the child”. A Montessori classroom is carefully prepared to allow the child to work independently and allow for the joy of self-discovery. Teachers introduce materials and children are free to choose them, again and again, working and discovering, and ultimately mastering ideas. Lessons are given, but the goal is for children to discover the answers by using the “auto-didactic”, or “self-correcting” materials that are found only in Montessori classrooms.
Daycare
Infant and toddler care: 18 to 30 months
(offered at North Surrey and South Surrey centre only)
2.5 to 5 years of age: Full time or part time (all four locations)
Preschool
2.5 to 5 years of age: two or three times a week (morning hours)
Montessori Program
More than Childcare… Early Childhood Education At Its Finest
The primary goal of a Montessori program is to help each child reach its full potential in all areas of life. The method of Montessori is based on three key factors; the specialized training of the teacher, a specially prepared environment complete with Montessori apparatus and a multi age grouping of children. When these elements are in place, young children are able to discover their own talents, gain self-confidence, make friendships, experience the joys of learning, and grow in a holistic manner.
Montessori’s idea of the prepared environment was that everything the child came in contact with would facilitate and maximize independent learning and exploration. This calm, well-ordered environment has a lot of movement and activity. Children are free to choose and work on activities at their own pace. Here, they experience a combination of freedom and self-discipline, as guided by the environment and the teacher.
There are generally seven aspects, or principles, to the Prepared Environment: Freedom; Structure and Order; Beauty; Nature and Reality; Social Environment; Intellectual Environment; Montessori materials.
In Montessori education we believe in the importance of three things, that all work together: the child, teacher, and materials, where each part is important. We believe that each child has many gifts and talents to be discovered, and not that a child is an empty container waiting to be filled up by the teacher. The teacher is an observer, follower, and guide bringing wisdom, thoughtfulness, and experience to the child’s academic, social, and intellectual exploration. The Montessori approach demands special professionals who are confident and skilled enough to allow children to be active participants in their learning. It also means that all school decisions are driven by what is best for the child. The authentic and beautiful Montessori materials provide activities that are cherished by the children and that help them learn with joy and understanding.
The teacher establishes guidelines for work and behavior, showing children how to be successful within the structure of the curriculum and the community. As a result, a pattern of good work habits and a sense of responsibility and cooperation are established in the classroom.
Aurostar daycare has become my daughter’s second home.
“Hi, I’m Sandra’s mom. My child was lucky enough to enter Aurostar daycare at a young age, and the daycare has become her second home. Under the guidance of Montessori education philosophy and teachers’ earnestness, we see Sandra grew up happily. She has developed the ability to understand rules, polite to others and take care of herself. Her study and language skills are constantly enhanced as well. Aurostar provides nutritious lunch and snacks every day, which are very suitable for my daughter’s taste. We also receive pictures of Sandra’s lunch every day. Thank you, Aurostar, for your excellent work! Aurostar let us feel at ease and comfortable sending my children over! We highly recommend their service!” — Sara
The cleaning and disinfection in the facility during the pandemic are perfect!
“Sunny helped my family a lot; I can’t express my thanks in words! My child used to be in another location, and she loves all teachers in the daycare. However, we need to move her to another location due to my work situation. Sunny immediately arranged for my daughter to her the other daycare close to my office without waiting. Everything smoothly done within a week solved all my problems. My daughter was upset initially, but with similar management and teaching methods in Sunny’s daycares, she soon gets familiar with the environment and happy again! Thank you for all your exceptional work! My daughter loves going to the daycare and even doesn’t want to miss a day! It is worth mentioning that the cleaning and disinfection in the facility during the pandemic are perfect, and I feel relieved to give my kid to Aurostar.” — Dan L
Aurostar’s bilingual classes meet our needs.
As a bilingual family, I don’t want my kid to lose their Chinese skills, and Aurostar meets my needs! Teacher Sun and Ms. Iris are all very gentle and patient; we parents can see they love and care for the children genuinely. My kid loves Aurostar’s meals, too! The food offered there is the best daycare I’ve ever seen. I highly recommend them to other families. — Melody