What is Montessori...
Montessori is an educational philosophy with the
fundamental tenet that a child learns best within a social environment which supports
each individual's unique development. It is based on the observation that young
children learn best in a setting filled with developmentally appropriate materials
that provide experiences contributing to the growth of self-motivated, independent
learners.
Montessori uses a "whole child" approach. The primary goal
is to help each child reach full potential in all areas of life. Activities promote
the development of social skills, emotional growth and physical coordination as well
as cognitive preparation. The holistic curriculum allows the child to experience the
joy of learning, time to enjoy the process and insure the development of self-esteem,
and provides the experiences from which children create their knowledge. Learning is
a happy experience which encourages children to build the foundation for a lifetime
of creative living and learning.
Each child is recognized at his/her individual level of
development and presented attractive learning situations suited to that stage. When
the child has mastered a level, he/she is encouraged to attempt new materials and
activities to further stimulate his/her growth.
We encourage you to come in and experience Montessori
for yourself. A lifetime love of learning awaits your child.
Some famous Montessori students...
Most of us associate our career success with our colleges.
Not too many people come out and say “When I was three years old I went to Hometown
Montessori School, and that made all the difference.” Here are a few well-known people
who remember their Montessori school connections and consider their experiences there vital.
Julia Child, the cook and writer, who taught Americans to love, prepare and pronounce
French dishes, attended Montessori school.
Peter Drucker, the business guru, who has been said to be one of the most important
thinkers of the 20th century, was a Montessori student.
Alice Waters, the chef of Chez Panisse fame and creator of The Edible Schoolyard
Project, was a Montessori teacher.
Anne Frank's famous diary was a natural extension of Anne’s Montessori elementary
school experience.
Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller’s teacher, corresponded with Dr. Maria Montessori
about teaching methods.
Larry Page and Sergei Brin, founders of Google, Jeff Bezos founder of Amazon, and
Steve Case of America Online all credit Montessori schooling to their creative success.
Montessori schools are focused on helping children become
self-directed individuals, who can, and do, make a difference in their families, in their
communities and in their world – famous or not.
-An excerpt from an article in Tomorrow’s Child magazine written by Maren Schmidt and
Dana Schmidt.