Programs
Toddler (IC) Program
During the first three years of life, the child is self constructing the human being he or she will become. To aid this self-construction, the Toddler Community offers the young child a tender atmosphere that fosters independence and aids in physical, psychological, intellectual, social and spiritual development.
The IC community continues to aid the child’s development through activities with a purpose of refining equilibrium, language and movements. The child of this age enjoys working independently as well as with adults. The work he or she does is not for the joy of the product produced, but for the joy in the process itself.
The child’s guide (teacher) observes and guides each child in his or her whole development; linking to both the prepared and human environment. Guides move slowly, speak softly and create a desire for each child to communicate through language by creating a loving individualized relationship with each child. The guide is Montessori trained to observe each child’s interests and curiosity which is evidence of a ‘sensitive period’. Sensitive periods are points in time where a child absorbs information on a particular subject, such as language, effortlessly. A Toddler Montessori guide is attuned to assisting in language, refinement of large and small motor skills, care of self and learning to care for others and his environment.
Pre-Primary (EC) Program
Our Early Childhood community offers multi-aged grouping for ages ~ 3 through 6 years. The three year mixed age grouping gives children the unique opportunity to succeed in a miniature community, where mutual respect, caring, sharing and self reliance can flourish. Older children are mentors and roll models for the younger children. Through teaching and mentoring the younger children, their knowledge is reinforced.
Our Early Childhood guides (teachers) prepare the classrooms to support a child’s natural curiosity; encourage creativity and aid in cooperative learning. Children learn individually and in small groups. The child is free to choose work that has been introduced to him/her from the different areas of the classroom. Each classroom consists of the following areas: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Math, Culture, Science, Art and Music. Every child has the freedom to observe, explore and interact with the inviting and colorful materials in the environment, thus acquiring knowledge through meaningful and satisfying work.
Our work continues into the outdoor classroom, where we will cultivate our organic school garden and learn about beneficial bugs and care of wildlife. What the children grow, they will harvest, clean, prepare and eat – returning scraps to the garden. The outside cycle is the same as inside – we choose work, determine the steps or actions required, lay out what we need, do our work then restore or return it for the next person to use. Children love the order, logic and intrinsic fairness in doing work this way.
Our Montessori School offers a unique cycle of learning designed to take advantage of the child’s sensitive years between birth and 6 years, when they can absorb information from an enriched environment.
“Education is a natural process carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words, but by experiences in the environment".
Maria Montessori
