The goal of Montessori is to provide a stimulating, child-centered environment in which children can explore, touch, and learn without fear, thus engendering a lifelong love of learning as well as providing the child the self-control necessary to fulfill that love.
The premises of a Montessori approach to teaching and learning include the following:
Children are competent beings capable of self-directed learning.
That children learn in a distinctly different way from adults.
The ultimate importance of observation of the child interacting with his environment as the basis for ongoing curriculum development. Presentation of subsequent exercises for skill development.
Delineation of sensitive periods of development, during which a child's mind is particularly open to learning specific skills or knowledge, including language development, sensorial experimentation & refinement, & various levels of social interaction.
That children are masters of their environment, which has been specifically prepared for them to be academic, comfortable, and allow a maximum amount of independence.
That children learn through discovery, so didactic materials that are self-correcting are used as much as possible.
Independent problem solving is encouraged.
Michael and Jill Sonka placed their daughter, Isabel, at Trinity Montessori as an alternative to traditional preschool. After Casa, their plan had always been to move Isabel to a more "traditional" school where she would be ahead after her years of Montessori training.
However as this time came closer, Michael and Jill began to realize that their desires for their daughter's education far exceeded what the "traditional" classroom could offer. Montessori had prepared her amply, however, that was just the beginning. As they observed Isabel's joy in learning and her natural push to assimilate knowledge, they began to realize that "traditional" would not suit their daughter.
Isabel loves Ms. Megan and has immensely enjoyed the time she has spent with her Casa class. She is preparing for her move to Lower Elementary. There, with the help of Ms. Melissa, she will build on the foundations begun in Casa.
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