PRESCHOOL EDUCATION  PHILOSOPHY

Dr. Maria Montessori was a physical and educator who believed children are capable humans and the role of the educator is to serve as a facilitator in their natural processes of exploration and learning about the world. She believed in an individualized, self-paced approach to instruction. The environment in a Montessori classroom is set up to let children learn on their from carefully prepared tools and activities. For example, a toddler classroom might be equipped with a utensil or color sorting activity, or sand-paper letters to help students get a sensory experience in their early literacy journey. Each child will work solitarily on their chosen task for long periods of time, with a teacher nearby to provide instruction and assistance when needed. These long periods are meant to develop and foster concentration and attention. Children independently, and on occasion in small groups, are free to work on any task they chose, but are only allowed to work with one activity at a time. Tasks are designed to develop sensory, coordination, motor, cognitive, creativity, literacy, and numeracy skills. Outdoor free play time is essential for developing social, emotional, creativity, and regulation skills. The Montessori-based classroom as a whole is designed to help set students up to succeed in their future educational and learning pursuits. 

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The daily schedule/routine looks like this: 

8:30am Circle Time - whole class, teacher led songs, date learning, and planned lesson

9am Snack Time - a quick snack before learning block

9:30 - 11:30am Learning Block - Individualized Work Block - time to engage in independent learning, facilitated by teacher(s) 

​11:30am Circle Time - gather to read a book 

12pm Lunch Time - 30 minutes to eat together, practice socializing in seats 

12:30pm Outdoor Time - Play time outside, rain or shine! Important socialization and free-play/nature time. 

1:30pm Nap Time - 1 hour nap or quiet time (reading, quiet activity) for older children who don't nap

2:30pm Snack Time - 15-30 minutes to eat a quick snack 

2:45pm-3pm Pick Up and/or Individualized Work Block for students staying later