Many say that Montessori is not just an educational philosophy, it is a way of life. Many of our faculty would agree with that statement. We strive to apply Montessori principles not only in the classroom but in our daily interactions with others as well. The cornerstone of Montessori is independence – helping the child to learn to care for his own fundamental needs through teaching practical life skills.
We also learn to care for others through positive, effective communication with empathy and a heart of service toward others. The care of the environment that we teach the children extends beyond the classroom and the home. We are taught to think globally, and preserve the planet for future generations.
Montessori means listening, learning, and understanding other cultures, traditions, and points of view. We focus on cooperation rather than competition. We value grace and courtesy. We place the needs of others before our own. We provided a safe place to fail, rebound from mistakes, and try again. When a child is not afraid to fail, she takes new risks which leads to innovation.
The Montessori Way means that we recognize that learning begins at birth. From birth to age six, the period that Dr. Montessori referred to as the “absorbent mind,” the child has a greater capacity to learn than in any other period of life. We prepare environments which allow the child to independently explore and learn. Our environments are intended to be enriching, with each material carefully selected to refine an important skill. Montessori early childhood classrooms are prepared learning environments, not day care centers. As children enter the second and third planes of development, we provide a learning environment designed to develop critical thinking skills. We allow students to master materials and skills at their own unique paces. We do not move students through a curriculum on a set schedule with the idea that specific lessons will be taught on specific dates. We meet the needs of each child by writing individual lesson plans, allowing adequate time to master skills and introducing new concepts only when a child shows mastery of old concepts and the readiness to conquer new material.
The Montessori Educational Center Code of Conduct is based on the following fundamental beliefs:
- Children learn best in a positive, safe, and inviting atmosphere.
- The education of a child is the shared responsibility of parents, teachers, and the child.
Parents and staff share in the task of encouraging the development of academic skills, social and emotional growth, and creativity in our students. Members of the school community have a responsibility to maintain an environment where conflict and difference can be addressed in a manner characterized by respect and civility. There is no place at our school for insults or acts which disrupt our environment.
Excellence in education is our goal and we have high expectations for every student.
Strong communication between home and school is essential.
