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| Philosophy |
About Our School |
Our Classrooms |
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A Montessori classroom must have these basic characteristics at all levels:
• Teachers educated in the Montessori philosophy and methodology appropriate to the age level they are teaching, who have the ability and dedication to put the key concepts into practice.
• A partnership with the family. The family is considered an integral part of the individual's total development.
• A multi-aged, multi-graded, heterogeneous group of students.
• A diverse set of Montessori materials, activities, and experiences, which are designed to foster physical, intellectual, creative and social independence.
• A schedule that allows large blocks of uninterrupted time to problem solve, to see the interdisciplinary connections of knowledge, and to create new ideas.
• A classroom atmosphere that encourages social interaction for cooperative learning, peer teaching, and emotional development.
“The work of education is divided between the teacher and the environment.” -Maria Montessori
The Practical Life exercises enable each child to develop concentration and to lengthen his attention span. As the child orders and
controls his movements, he develops self-discipline and an orderly and logical mind. He acquires poise and confidence and becomes
motivated to continue to learn about the world around him. The Practical Life area is the most important of the Montessori
environment as it lays the groundwork in helping the child to enjoy and appreciate the academic work to follow.
The three academic areas of Sensorial, Language, and Mathematics introduce concepts on a concrete level. The child is able to
manipulate the materials to come to a fuller understanding of the meanings of each exercise.
The materials are offered in a logical learning sequence and the child is encouraged to repeat the exercises as often as desired
and at his own pace. In this way, new materials are presented as the child is ready for and can benefit most from them.
Additional areas for growth and development include arts and crafts, music and rhythm, nature study, geography, walks, field trips
and supervised outdoor play. In all these areas, the Montessori method provides the child with enjoyable experiences in a
prepared environment helping him to meet the joys and challenges of life.
Montessori aims to develop the full potential of the child, not just from an academic point of view, but also from a "whole child"
perspective. Self-esteem, tolerance, mutual respect and concern are all characters that are developed in a Montessori environment.
We currently have three classrooms that are mixed age grouped the youngest at 2 ½ and the oldest at 6. Mixed age groups are important
because the older children show leadership, and the younger children learn by watching the other children.
Each classroom averages 15 students with 2 teachers, which is below the state requirements for ratios which is 1 teacher per 12 students.
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