What is Montessori?
Never mind choosing a college, most parents are concerned enough with choosing a pre-school or elementary school for their children. Parents today are increasingly aware that early positive experiences with learning and the classroom environment are critical in fostering children's success in school for years to come. Early and subsequent success depends greatly upon the encouragement of a child's curiosity, the development of critical thinking abilities and problem solving skills, but most of all, the cultivation of a love of learning. The Montessori method addresses each student's emotional, physical, intellectual, creative and social level of development to guide each student towards optimal achievement.
While all schools strive to reach every child, Montessori learning is an approach specifically designed around each individual child. Montessori teachers plan for each child by observing learning styles, identifying progress on developmental planes, and preparing the classroom environment and skill-specific activities to support each child's experiences. The fundamental goals of Montessori learning are to promote concentration, coordination, independence, and a sense of order.
A Montessori classroom is always carefully prepared, from the arrangement of the classroom to the layout of the materials. The setting is appealing and nurturing, while promoting concentration and work. Montessori classrooms are designed for open movement to support exploration and interaction within a focused atmosphere. All materials teach specific concepts or skills through "hands-on" experience with real-world application and relevance. The environment promotes independence and is carefully organized to optimize each child's learning experiences. The Preprimary classroom is designed around the areas of Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, Cultural Studies, Language, and Science. The Lower Elementary classroom extends these areas, as well as further incorporating art, computers, and physical education.
The Montessori teacher is constantly observing each child so as to prepare the environment for each one's distinctive learning style and developmental plane. The teacher constantly modifies components of the environment to appeal to the child's abilities and interests, which fosters the child's intrinsic love of learning. This attention to the individual is balanced by the sense of community within the classroom, with younger children emulating older ones, and older children developing confidence as leaders in the classroom.
The Montessori philosophy was developed by a lifetime of experience by Dr. Maria Montessori over 100 years ago. The Montessori method is strongly supported by educational and early childhood experts in meeting the intrinsic needs of children. Children developed through the Montessori method emerge as confident, independent individuals, with a strong sense of community and a lifelong love of learning.
Charlotte Academy is not only Charlotte County's only private, independent school, but also the only American Montessori Society (AMS) member school. Each Montessori classroom is led by a fully certified Montessori Lead Teacher. Students ages three through third grade are developed through the Montessori program, while students in grades fourth through eighth grades progress through an accelerated academic curriculum in preparation of rigorous high school honors courses. Charlotte Academy students consistently score multiple grade levels above on the Stanford Achievement Test, with most scoring Post-High-School by the middle of sixth grade. The performances of Charlotte Academy graduates as academic standouts and student leaders in local high schools clearly attest to the benefits of an early Montessori experience, followed by an academic preparatory program.
In an increasingly competitive world, the choice of an enriching educational program is significant, whether your child is in preschool, elementary, or middle school. For more information, please contact Charlotte Academy at 764-7673, or visit www.charlotteacademy.com.
Parents of young children in the 2000's want to feel safe and secure in leaving their children in an environment that provides for all of their academic, social and emotional needs. Charlotte Academy does meet all of the above needs, but it also teaches children an "I can do it" attitude that will ensure their future success in all aspects of their life. Below are some characteristics and benefits of the Charlotte Academy Montessori method:
- Three year age span of children within the classroom - Older children teaching younger children, sense of community, builds self esteem.
- Self correcting materials within the environment - Children learn through their own errors to make the correct decision versus having the teacher point it out to them.
- Individual learning takes place within the environment - Montessori recognizes that each child learns at a different pace and allows that growth to take place.
- Children are quiet by choice and out of respect for others within the environment - The Montessori classroom allows children to return to the "inner peace" that is a natural part of their personalities.
- There is an emphasis on concrete learning rather than on abstract learning - Children need to experience concepts in concrete "hands on" ways.
- It is a child centered environment - All the materials are easily within the child's reach, placed on shelves at their levels. The tables and chairs are small enough for the children to sit comfortably while the pictures and decorations are placed at the children's eye level.
- The children work for the joy of working and the sense of discovery - Children are natural leaders or "sponges" and delight in learning new tasks. Their interests lie in the work itself rather than in the end product.
- The environment provides a natural sense of discipline - The "ground rules" or expectations of the child are clearly stated and are enforced by the children and the teachers.
- The environment is "prepared" for the children - Everything in the room has a specific place on the shelf. Children are orderly by nature and having the room set this way allows them to grow in a very positive way.
- The teacher plays a very unobtrusive role in the classroom - The children are not motivated by the teacher, but by the need for self development.
Any additional questions may be answered by calling me at 941-764-7673.
