Patuxent Montessori School

PREPARATION FOR LIFE

The Montessori approach offers a broad vision of education as an aid to life and is designed to help children with their task of inner construction as they grow from childhood to maturity. It succeeds because it draws its principles from the natural development of the child. The inherent flexibility allows the method to adapt to the needs of the individual, regardless of the level of ability, learning style, or social maturity.

A COMMUNITY APPROACH

Patuxent Montessori School fosters a community approach to education that involves a working partnership between the school and parents to create an ideal educational environment. Each of our three program communities toddler, primary, and elementary depend on this partnership in order to respond to each students developmental needs from age 1 1/2 to 12 years.

THE MONTESSORI PREPARED ENVIRONMENT

Our classrooms provide a prepared environment where children are free to respond to their natural drive to work and learn. The childs inherent love of learning is encouraged by giving them opportunities to engage in spontaneous, meaningful activities under the guidance of a trained adult. The Toddler Community is a small, intimate environment that provides opportunities for the child from 16 months to 3 years of age to become independent, and offer order and communication as well as exploration using the senses. The Primary environment allows the 2 1/2 to 6 year old child to explore and develop independence in a safe and supportive setting. The activities are designed not only to teach the concepts, but to help the child develop her own personality through self-correction and free choice. From age 6 to 12, the students in the Elementary Program pursue their unlimited intellectual energies for research and exploration through guided lessons, group activities, research projects, and learning outside the classroom. Through their work, the children develop concentration, motivation, persistence, and discipline. Within this framework of order the children progress at their own pace and rhythm, according to their individual capabilities during the crucial years of development.
THE TEACHERS ROLE

The role of a Montessori teacher is one of guide and observer, whose ultimate goal is to intervene less and less as the child develops. Our teachers build an atmosphere of calm, order and joy in the classroom and encourages the children in all their efforts which promotes self-confidence and self-discipline. The teacher builds an atmosphere of calm, order and joy and encourages the children in all their efforts to promote self-confidence and discipline.With the younger students at each level, the teacher is more active, demonstrating the use of materials and presenting activities based on an assessment of the childs needs. Knowing when to observe and when, and how much, to intervene is a skill each Montessori teacher develops during a rigorous, specialized course of training at AMI training centers in the United States, and throughout the world.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT: WHATS EXPECTED

In order to build a strong relationship between the school and parents, it is important for parents to learn about the Montessori philosophy so they can support the work of the staff and support their childs development. Parents are expected to attend meetings on topics such as child development, parenting, Montessori philosophy and practice, in addition to individual parent conferences and classroom observations. Tuition does not fully cover all the costs of running a school. Parents are expected to show their commitment to the school by their contributions in time, services, or donations. The support parents give to the school, and to fund raising events, allows the school to provide the finest education to its students. During the school year, there are also various social events in which the members of the school community have an opportunity to come together to share fellowship.