Maria Montessori’s methods of teaching are based on the great capacity and desire of very young children to explore their world. At Montessori Children’s House we use the child’s curiosity and excitement to help him or her discover the world, learn to solve problems, and gain confidence, independence and pride. Our “prepared” environment lets the child be involved and challenged by the things around him.

In our classrooms and methods, everything is geared to the children’s needs. Here they develop a community life through their sense of ownership and pride. Along with the socialization, they develop an awareness of and sensitivity to each other on a daily basis. Our organized and stimulating classrooms posses an atmosphere of warmth and relaxation which invites a child’s participation and self-development.

Montessori Children’s House's teachers are keen observers and are always alert to the subtle changes in a child’s progress or mood. Our teacher’s role is not to criticize or interfere with a child’s work, but to properly guide him into the skills that will help him develop.

Our goal is to provide the child with self-discipline and the love of learning. The activities we offer children are age appropriate and  geared to each child’s developmental ability.

Many creative and time-tested activities are offered to assist the child in developing a sense of order, concentration, independence, fine motor skills, grace, courtesy, confidence, self esteem, and respect for others.

Some toddler and preschooler activities in practical life include:

· How to brush your teeth · How to wash hands and clean your nails · How to pack a lunch · How to dress yourself · How to use buttons, zippers, snaps, velcro binds · How to pack an overnight bag · How to set a table · How to pour · How to wipe up a spill · How to polish shoes · How to plant a seed and water a plant · How to clean up after yourself · How to draw a person’s attention · How to say “Please” and “Thank you” · How to answer the telephone · How to insert batteries · How to clip clothespins · How to fold a t-shirt · How to blow your nose · How to cough and sneeze

Sensorial activities assist the child in understanding the information he receives from his environment to help the child discriminate, appreciate and understand his world.

These activities involve the use of music, sounds, smells, and concrete objects to stimulate and exercise their senses of hearing, sight and smell. Some of the objects used include blocks, towers, rods, sound cylinders, smelling bottles, touch boards, fabrics, color tablets, geometric solids, and lots of music.

A sample exercise to build coordination and perception would have the child create a horizontal stair or vertical tower out of cubes of differing sizes. As the child progresses in this exercise, he is asked to build the simple structure with his eyes closed to further enhance his senses.

Through multiple language arts activities, a child will learn the alphabet, phonetic sounds, phonetic reading and writing, irregular or sight words, phonograms and blends. Our Montessori teachers will also involve the child in word games, public speaking and reciting poetry.

Through activities that incorporate the use of concrete materials (beads, blocks, rods, cards), children learn to count to ten, and then systematically progress to solving complex addition, subtraction, multiplication and division questions, and the exchange of quantities.

Through multiple activities, the child is introduced to and familiarized with geography, history, botany, zoology, and scientific experiments.

The geography activities – through photographs, molds, globes, flags and puzzles – teach the children the concept of land, water, air, and world’s regions.

History is taught by letting the children examine their own timeline from birth to present. The concept of time is explained through clocks calendars, seasons, and family trees.

The botany activities are child-centered using live plants – from seed, to plant, flowers and fruits – to help him develop an appreciation for the delicate balance of nature.

Zoology activities take the children’s fascination with animals and teaches them to respect animals’ needs and habits.

The scientific activities are a fun way to develop a child’s skills of predicting and analyzing.

Music and singing are part of the scheduled activities to help the child develop an appreciation for sounds and melody. At Montessori Children’s House we also provide piano and violin lessons on site to interested students.

Daily emphasis is placed on physical activities to develop fine and gross motor skills through exercise, dancing, and outdoor recreation. Age-appropriate classes in ballet, cheerleading and gymnastics are part of the schedule at Montessori Children’s House. Our secure outdoor recreation area with playground sets and covered picnic tables is a safe place for the children to exercise, play, and develop coordination.

All our classroom activities are presented as stimulating games to the children. In this manner we use a child’s own curiosity to develop the skills that will prepare him or her for life’s many experiences.

For more information about our classrooms, activities and the Montessori methods, please contact us at: