Kriterion A Montessori School

Kritrion is a very special school for average and gifted children. It is a prepared environment where children learn, and learn how to learn more. It is to that end that Kritrion gives the needed freedom of movement and of choice. Kritrion School has equipment and materials, which, when thoughtfully handled, help to encourage concentration and to instill the basic concepts needed for further learning. The structure of the learning is guided by the teacher and by the materials themselves. This work leads from the known to the unknown, clarifying one difficulty at a time, and increasing understanding and knowledge. As their motivation and self-discipline deepen, the children develop their native talents at their own pace. Kritrion School is a true Montessori school.

Montessori is an educational approach which revolves around the child. Traditionally education institutions, beginning with nursery schools, organize students under a dominant curriculum.

At Kritrion, children spend their day in a very attractive and dynamic learning environment, motivated by their own interests. Directed by Montessori teachers where needed, they first learn to manage their own behavior, to develop self-esteem, and to acquire practical skills and positive attitudes toward learning. They learn all this by being active with work they choose themselves.

Primary Montessori students, ages 2 to 7, are introduced to increasingly sophisticated sensory-motor learning materials. Montessori learning materials are ideas in concrete form. Their use by young children develops fine muscle control, sensorial discriminiation, awareness of self and surroundings, and self-discipline. The children become self-motivated learners.

Work with this equipment makes understanding concepts easier. It prepares for and introduces the learning needed for reading, writing, and arithmetic. Having a head start in ABCs and counting is not the goal, but because of the way working with the material prepares the children, an academic advantage usually results.

These young children, for example, manipulate concrete mathematics materials through which they can understand not only the basic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, but also the whole decimal number system.

Children of this age absorb all of their learning environment. Their play is learning, and their learning is play.

Youngsters in the primary group advance to the lower elementary or intermediate Montessori level at Kritrion School when they are ready. This level of work introduces students ages 6 to 10 to the concrete learning materials for fractions, the measurement of distance, quantity and volume, the number bases, algebra, geometry, the basics of natural science, geography, history with its timelines, music and art, language analysis and writing. These youngsters learn with great energy and involvement. They like to gather in small groups and work along parallel lines of thought.

The advanced or senior Montessori students (ages 9 to 14) continue in much the same vein, but more abstractly and in greater detail: more emphasis on cultures (classical and modern), history, and literature; greater depth in arithmetic, algebra and geometry; language projects. They exercise their individual thinking skills and personal judgment. They gain insights from reference materials, from trial and error (and success), and from teamwork with their peers and their teacher. It is a way of learning whereby students lay the foundation for their own powers of evaluation and moral judgment. They are students of fairness and of ideals.

Kritrion School offers a basis for lifelong learning. Montessori leads to a way of learning to live, at first sheltered and guided, eventually independent, on its own, continuing through life as joy in learning.

Before admission, parents and child must visit the school for an interview. The school policies and the Montessori approach to education can be further discussed then. An appointment should be made with the school office.

During the year children may be enrolled as places become available. For the registration fee and tuition installments, see the tuition sheet. Thank you for your interest in Kritrion School. If you would like to see the school, receive additional information, or register your child, please call the school office at (210) 735-9778.

Kritrion School is not a religious affiliate. We welcome children of all races and faiths.

Child Ages:

2 years - 14 years

Licenses & Accreditations:

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Preschool:

Yes

Hours of Operation:

06:00 AM-06:00 PM - Monday - Friday