Palisades Montessori Center
About Us
Montessori Philosophy
The Montessori philosophy is rooted in the belief that children are naturally eager for knowledge and capable of initiating learning in a supportive and thoughtfully prepared environment. Fostering a sense of independence and self-direction in children is a major component of the philosophy. Today, the label of “Montessori” serves as a large umbrella. Some schools are extremely formal, with a very strict approach to teaching. Others simply use a few specialized Montessori materials with little else resembling a Montessori classroom. At PMC, we pride ourselves on being a creative Montessori Center. Here we outline for you some of the basic tenets of the Montessori Philosophy and also our approach.
Montessori Materials
A Montessori classroom is full of high quality, specially designed pieces of equipment that are self-correcting, allowing students to learn best from their own independent trial and error rather than having every lesson be dependent on the teacher to provide all the information. The materials are also multi-staged and multi-faceted and progress to heightened levels of difficulty. Once a child masters one level, he/she is inspired and motivated to reach for the next one. Children gain enormous self-esteem and confidence by mastering the materials on their own.
Individualized Approach
Because the environment is prepared for children to self-select many of their own activities, there is much more opportunity for free choice and self-reliance. Oftentimes, each student is working on a different activity because of the emphasis on individual needs and free choice. You will also notice a Montessori teacher giving more individual instruction to one student at a time as opposed to traditional group instruction because inherent in the Montessori philosophy is the notion that all children are unique and that individual learning differences must be recognized. There is more opportunity in a Montessori classroom for students to learn academic subjects in a non-stressful manner if they are ready due to this individualized attention.
Our Creative Montessori Approach
Here at PMC, we utilize the Montessori philosophy to develop independent students who seek out knowledge, all while infusing our program with a lot of love and creativity.
While academics play an important part in our daily curriculum, each child learns at his/her own pace in a non-threatening, non-competitive way. Additionally, we have not lost sight of the fact that our students are still very small children. It is for this reason that our approach is more relaxed, and a child’s day at PMC is also filled with fun, creativity and imagination. As our skilled teachers provide an abundance of individualized as well as group instruction, they also emphasize social interaction and play. By following this approach, we achieve balance, focusing on all aspects of the total child. We are a community devoted to illuminating a child’s sense of importance and value, where uniqueness, independence and self-confidence can flourish – a place where individuality and differences are welcome and appreciated. Under the guidance of highly trained Montessori accredited teachers, students at PMC gain self-esteem, showcase their creative spirits, hone problem solving skills and learn how to relate well with others in a trusting, loving atmosphere.