The purpose of practical life exercises is to encourage conscious, orderly, controlled, and functional knowledge out of the mass happenings in the real world. They help a child break down jobs at hand into easily manageable components. All require real tools — silverware, wood, glass, and other items that reflect an actual home environment. In this way, they give the child a chance to learn what practical living is, and how to manage it.

The main areas in the practical life exercises involve Grace and Courtesy, Care of Person, Care of the Indoor Environment, and Art.

Lessons in the language of respect (Derech Eretz) and lessons in control and coordination of movement are taught and practiced throughout the day at Gani. These grace-and-courtesy lessons are emphasized strongly in September, at the beginning of each school year, and extended throughout the school year and into summer school as well. Examples include:

• Saying please and thank you
• Saying "excuse me"
• Politely blowing one's nose
• Politely covering one's mouth in a yawn or cough using the forearm
• Apologizing when appropriate and assuming responsibility

This area deals with size, shape, and color. The sensorial materials are designed to aid the child in training and refining his or her five senses. Children are exposed to concepts of size, shape, and color and challenged to make judgments about them.

By using the sensorial materials, the child learns to recognize similarities and differences, to discriminate between similar objects, and to gradate similar objects. Each set of materials is used as carefully and precisely as possible. Precision at this stage prepares for later work in geometry.

Gani children typically do not remember learning to read, as the environment is designed so that all experiences feed naturally toward the development of skills required for reading. Although reading, writing, spelling, and grammar are introduced to the child in an organized phonetic method, the presentation allows the child to acquire reading skills without realizing the effort.

The Aleph Bet is always taught in order, as opposed to English letters which are taught by most common sounds. After a child has mastered several letters, the teacher will begin introducing one vowel at a time — beginning with Kamatz, then Patach, and so on.

Once a child has shown fluency in blending letters with vowels, the teacher will introduce blending of two letters, then three, with different vowels. Children will have both Montessori materials and traditional materials to work with. The formal introduction to reading happens for all children in their Kindergarten year. All other children in the primary room, depending on their level, are introduced to and encouraged to use the Hebrew language materials. For children who exhibit reading skills earlier, the teacher will provide materials to keep that child progressing.

Math is the study of numbers, quantities, shapes, and measurements, and how they relate to one another. In Montessori math, the children are introduced to the concrete sensorial impressions of numbers, the decimal system and its functions, addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division. Using manipulative materials, the child explores these concepts physically, creating a basis for more abstract operations.

Geography is the study of the earth — including its people, resources, climate, and physical features. Teaching Geography aids the child in developing a clear sense of spatial orientation. By giving sensorial impressions of the earth and showing children their relationship to it, Montessori lessons help develop a foundation of global awareness.

Geography is also a wonderful tool to introduce children to the different lands and waters Hashem created. Older children love working with these materials, as they are both beautiful and complex. They begin to learn about Jewish culture and holy places all around the world.

Exploring the subject of Botany helps a child develop an appreciation for and an understanding of the life cycle and the beauty of Hashem's creations. Through specific Botany works, the child develops a greater knowledge and understanding of the virtue of patience as he or she is exposed to nature's seasonal changes and the growth cycle.

These lessons occur in our outdoor classrooms. As the child builds success upon success with small tasks, he or she is able to go on to greater ones, mastering his or her small environment.