The Montessori Method

The Montessori method starts with a series of carefully prepared environments suited to the unique characteristics and propensities of the individual. It seeks to optimize the developmental stages of each new child who joins our community. Trained guides attune to the individual personality, skills, and interests of the child and provide a dynamic link to the materials in the classroom. As the child grows confident in their capabilities, they too grow in their willingness to participate in the construction, care, and maintenance of the community and the environment. Children in the 3-6 environment are often seen watering plants, feeding a classroom pet, or working through their ideas to find workable, peaceful solutions to their problems.

The method emphasizes practical experiences such as cutting vegetables, planting a garden, or sewing. It also offers the child concrete exploration of abstract impressions such as smell, color and form, first through the senses and gradually building a foundation with language and movement from which true creativity flows. Additionally, the foundational concepts of spoken and written language, math, geography, biology, and culture are explored tangibly and interdependently for a deeper understanding, rather than in isolation or strictly through the abstract paper and pencil format. 

Because the environments are extensions of the community, diversity in language, music, and self-expression play a significant role in the character-building process.

Outdoor Nature Play

Our guides allow each child the opportunity to move freely and constructively both indoors and out. Staff are on hand to help, support and nurture the students and their curiosity. Education is not exclusive to the classroom and it is most often relevant only in relationship to the experiences they have out-of-doors.

In collaboration with 3 Owls Outdoor Play Consultants, we have developed a Nature Playscape with native plants, a bouldering feature, and an open playscape. Open areas give children the freedom to run freely and explore widely. They also are shown how to nurture their relationships with other living beings by cultivating a garden, camping, and hiking to the lake for a picnic, to name a few. Our programs include the outdoors because it is vital for a child’s health to cultivate a healthy relationship with nature.