Fundamentals
Medina Montessori School is dedicated to providing a safe pleasant environment where your child can learn how to learn. The Montessori tradition is based on acknowledgment of four planes of human physical and intellectual development, averaging two three year cycles in each plane. The Montessori preschool environment applies to the 2nd cycle of the first plane of early childhood development. Children who enter at the age between two and one-half and three, remain in the program for approximately three years. This is to insure optimum opportunity for the child to accomplish from within. The publications given to parents of enrolled children hold the same information contained on this page, albeit from another source. At this school, children will grow in knowledge, social skills and independence. Our calm and pleasant environment provides your child with:
* A normalcy of a mixed-age environment that is built into the structure of all Montessori programs. This corresponds to the human tendency of all children, between the ages of three through five or six, needing a three year cycle to accomplish said growth within a fixed learning environment.
* A developmentally appropriate sense of community among the children in the school.
* All the aspects of a Montessori program that hold the opportunity to accomplish growth at a rate unique to the individual child, through an internal stability that develops over the time a child attends this school. That stability is based on a constancy that is found in:
a. the physical element: room and materials arrangement on the shelves
are constant, i.e. I know where my work is today because
I put it there before I went home yesterday.
b. the time element: routine of the day and week is constant, i.e.,
I know each morning that there will be enough time for me to paint
my picture and play outside.
c. the repetition element: constant use of hands and repetition develop
concentration, a foundation for learning, i.e. I know that
I will get to do this work again tomorrow, because it is easier each
time I do it and I like that.
d. the trust element: the guide(s) remains
with the same children for a two to three year period; i.e. I
know my teacher(s) will be there today, because she (they) loves
me and gives me lessons. I know the ground rules because my teacher(s)
explain them to me and my friends; and we all follow them everyday,
even my teacher(s).
e.
the social element: the population
of the class is constant, i.e. I know that my friends will
be there waiting for me, because I love my friends.
f. the maturation process: a mixed age group is constant and creates in older children a conscientiousness toward the younger children. The younger children are provided with an older peer who, by example and interaction, fortifies the confidence of the younger children; i.e. I know I can do this work because I watched my friend do it and she will help me if I need it.