Montesschool at Hillcrest

Academic Focus in a Joyful Environment

" Nothing Without Joy " – At Coppell Creek Montessori we believe that academic focus is key to success in the school years and beyond. We provide a tried and tested academic curriculum coupled with an fun filled enrichment program that is second to none. We believe that our children deserve the best and we will provide them the same !
Non-Competitive Atmosphere

No grades until the child has gained confidence in the use of the basic skills. “Never let a child risk failure until he has a reasonable chance of success.” Each child matures at a different rate. Therefore materials should be at hand whenever a child is ready. Everyone learns at their own pace! Learning should be joyful and natural.
No Forced Discipline or Forced Learning

Self-discipline should be acquired through absorption in meaningful work not by forcing children to follow. When a child becomes interested in a particular activity his behavior almost always matures. Being children driven the child chooses the material or the activity with the teacher being the facilitator and mentor.
Structure and Guidance

While the children are allowed to choose the material and activity of their choice the school provides a definite structure and a daily routine with the teachers acting as guides and mentors to ensure the children are on task. This is essential for children when they graduate to the elementary school.
Mixed Age Groups

In the traditional Montessori classroom the children range in age from ~3 to ~5 years old. This allows the younger children to learn from the older children and it creates an opportunity for the older children to become strong leaders and role models by assisting their younger classmates.
Developing a positive attitude towards school

Most of the learning activities are individualized: i.e. each child engages in a learning task that particularly appeals to him or her……because he / she finds the activities geared to his/her needs and level of readiness. Consequently he/she works at his/her own rate repeating the task as often as he/she likes thus experiencing a series of successful achievement. In this manner he /she build a positive attitude toward learning itself.
Helping each child develop self confidence

In the Montessori school tasks are designed so that each new step is built upon what the child has already mastered thus removing the negative experience of frequent failure. A carefully planned series of successes builds upon inner confidence in the child assuring him that he can learn by himself. These confidence building activities likewise contribute to the child’s healthy emotional development.
Assisting each child in building a habit of concentration

Effective learning presupposes the ability to listen carefully and to attend to what is said or demonstrated. Through a series of absorbing experiences the child forms habits of extended attention thus increasing his ability to concentrate. Higher concentration coupled with a great learning environment has generally found to produce children who are academically advanced.
Fostering an abiding curiosity

In a rapidly changing society we will all be students at some time in our lives. A deep persistent and abiding curiosity is a prerequisite for creative learning. By providing the child with opportunities to discover qualities dimensions and relationships amidst a rich variety of stimulating learning situations curiosity is developed and an essential element in creative learning has been established.
Developing habits of initiative and persistence
By surrounding the child with appealing materials and learning activities geared to his inner needs he becomes accustomed to engaging in activities on his / her own. Gradually this results in a habit of initiative – an essential quality in leadership. “Ground rules” call for completing a task once begun and gradually results in a habit of persistence and perseverance for replacing materials after the task is accomplished. This "completion expectation gradually results in a habit of persistence and perseverance.
Fostering inner security and sense of order in the child

Through a well ordered enriched but simplified environment the child’s need for order and security is intensely satisfied. This is noticed in the calming effect the environment has on the child. Since every item in the Montessori classroom has a place and the ground rules call for everything in its place the child’s inner need for order is directly satisfied.