MISSION:
Children are our main focus and we seek the
best for every child.
- We strive to provide a carefully planned, child centered,
peaceful environment which emphasizes the social, emotional,
cognitive and physical development of the child.
- To provide a strong academic foundation in education,
employing the philosophy, methods and materials developed
by Dr. Maria Montessori.
- To cultivate the child’s natural desire to learn
and develop at his own speed, his capabilities in a non-competitive
atmosphere and thus develop a favorable attitude towards
learning
- To accept and respect each child in our care and based
on careful observation, use individualized teaching styles
to enhance their developmental patterns of learning.
- To foster independence, creativity, self-discipline,
self-direction, self confidence and respect for oneself
and others.
- To provide a nurturing environment and care for the
development of the whole child in preparation for school
and a future of lifelong learning. Children are encouraged
to develop good work habits and share in the responsibility
of their learning.
We acknowledge and celebrate the rich and
diverse heritage and tradition of different cultures. We welcome
parents to share their cultural diversity with our Montessori
community.
MONTESSORI METHODOLOGY
Dr. Montessori (1870-1952), engineer, physician,
and educator, developed an approach to education that would
aid the child in his/ her development. The first Casa dei
Bambini (Children’s House) opened in Rome on Jan 06th,
1907. Since then the Montessori Method, based on careful observation
of and respect for the natural development of the child, has
spread worldwide with Children Houses on every continent but
Antarctica.
The Montessori methodology has been refined
and adopted all over the world. A positive self image is strongly
correlated with future success. A Montessori program is based
on self directed, non-competitive activities that help the
children to develop a strong self image, self discipline,
independence as well as an enthusiasm for learning and the
confidence to face future challenges optimistically. Since
they are encouraged to make decisions from an early age, these
children are problem solvers who make appropriate choices
and manage their time well. The Montessori Method is based
on the child’s tendencies to explore, be independent
and make decisions, develop self-control, abstract ideas from
experience, be creative and imaginative, repeat for internalization,
concentrate, perfect and master concepts and ideas.
The environment is arranged according to
subject area, and children are free to move around the room,
and to work on a piece of material as long as needed. Children
learn directly from the environment, other children, and from
the teacher. All subjects are interwoven. At any given time
all subjects-math, language, science, history, geography,
art, music, etc. are being studied, at all levels. Children
are exposed to amazing amounts of knowledge. Montessori classes
are organized into groups representing a three-year age span.
Within each group, there is constant interaction, problem
solving, child-to-child teaching, and socialization. .
It is the role of the teacher to prepare
and adapt the environment. The teacher links the child to
the environment with well-planned lessons. The teacher works
with children one-on-one, in small groups, and less frequently,
in large group settings. A Montessori classroom feels very
different from traditional classrooms. Rather than placing
a teacher at the center, here you’ll find students directing
their own activities and learning from one another. The Montessori
teacher relies on her observations of the children to determine
which new materials she will introduce to an individual or
small group of children. From an early age, Montessori students
develop the self-discipline to work alone, with peers, or
with the entire class. Children in Montessori schools are
often several years above grade level in their basic skills.
Also, since the Montessori education is comprehensive, children
are often exceptionally knowledgeable in a number of other
areas as well. Children who have been educated using the Montessori
method grow into complete learners who know how to learn and
love learning.
THE MONTESSORI APPROACH
The Montessori approach recognizes that a
child is more responsive to certain learning experiences at
particular times during their sensitive periods.
Order and precision
are the keys to spontaneous work in the school.”(Maria
Montessori, The Absorbent Mind) The child needs to develop
control over his/her body and his/her environment. Again,
our classroom procedures and materials allow the child to
establish this. The classroom is designed to fit the child,
not the adult. The child in a Montessori environment is not
only “allowed” to do activities that many adults
consider beyond him/her, it is frequently his/her ‘responsibility”
to do so. The teachers then can direct the child towards materials
that will satisfy his/her developmental needs. The child establishes
order in his /her mind and his/her learning habits when there
is a specific time, location and meaning to everything in
his/her environment. If we showed them exactly how to do something,
this precision itself seems to hold their interest. To have
a real purpose to which the action was directed, this was
the first condition, but the exact way of doing it acted like
a support which rendered the child stable in his efforts,
and therefore brought him to make progress in his development.
“A child’s work,” Dr Maria Montessori wrote,
is to create the man he will become. An adult works to perfect
the environment, but a child works to perfect himself.”
.Dr Montessori believed that the competition should be introduced
only after the child has gained confidence in the use of basic
skills. “Never let a child risk failure,” she
wrote, “unless he has a reasonable chance of success”
Concentration
is the first essential for the child’s development.
It lays the whole basis for his character and social behavior.
Praise, help or even a look may be enough to interrupt him,
or destroy the activity it seems a strange thing to say but
this can happen even if the child becomes merely aware of
being watched. The teacher’s (and parent’s) skill
in not interfering comes with practice, like everything else….they
should not be helped unnecessarily, nor interrupted, once
they have begun to do something intelligent. Our classroom
procedures and materials encourage this behavior on the part
of the children and adults.
Independence
is also twofold in a Montessori environment. We want the child
to be able to complete an activity on his/her own, and to
choose his/her own activities that suit his/her developmental
needs. In “The Child in the Family”, Dr Montessori
said, “Any child who is self sufficient, who can tie
his own shoes, dress, or undress himself, reflects in his
joy and sense of achievement the image of independence”
community.
Mixed age grouping
enables older children to be role models to the younger children
and learn patience, nurturance and appreciation for other
perspective through their experiences with other children
and choose friendship based on common interest. Mixed age
groups allows for much greater flexibility in curriculum design
and meeting individual needs. Free of the traditional grouping
by age, children in a Montessori classroom can work at what
ever level is appropriate. The children learn from observing
one another and can also demonstrate their mastery of an activity
by giving a lesson to another child.
Classroom rules
are based on respect for themselves, for others and for the
environment. As children are treated with respect by the adults,
they learn to treat themselves and others on kind. The freedom
of movement found in the Montessori early childhood environment
allows children the opportunity to learn to control their
bodies in a defined space. To become independent, children
must develop motor coordination and control.
“It is true we cannot make a genius.”
Dr Montessori said. “We can only give each individual
the chance to fulfill his potential to become an independent,
secure and balanced human being.” That is the purpose
of Dulles Montessori Children’s House.
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