Program

By the age of three, the child has already laid down the foundations of his personality as a human being...
-- Dr. Maria Montessori

Overview

Village Montessori offers a top quality program for toddlers in a unique home setting. The Director, Jules Layman, has over 30 years experience in Montessori education. Applications are due March 1st of each year. School is in session Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., September to June.

Philosophy

Village Montessori strives to:

 

• Provide a beautifully prepared environment, both inside the classroom and out in the garden that is safe, orderly, nurturing and inviting for your child.
• Work closely with parents to support a healthy separation experience. As the Montessori philosophy focuses on education for life, it is important to the child’s development that there is consistency between school and home. Open communication with individual families as well as parent conferences and educational evenings are an essential part of the program.
• Recognize and appreciate the unique personality and temperament of each child.
• Support the child’s desire to be independent. "I did it myself, Jules" is often heard at Village Montessori and it is spoken with such joy, that there is no doubt about the pride that is felt in each child’s accomplishments.
• Provide activities that meet the needs of this important age. When young children are free to choose an activity, based on their own interest, it is remarkable to see the level of focus and concentration that occurs. This results in a love of work, a love of order and a strong connection to their environment and community.

The child can only develop by means of experience in his environment.
-- Dr. Maria Montessori

Activities

On any given morning at Village Montessori, there is a hub of activity. In one corner a child may be engaged with a language activity, matching ocean animals to realistic photographs, while in another a child is painting at the easel.

 
The Practical Life activities form the foundation of a Montessori environment for young children. These include two areas; learning how to care for oneself; such as dressing and undressing, brushing hair, and using the toilet. The other is caring for their environment; examples are watering plants, feeding the fish, food preparation or washing the dishes. Toddlers have a strong desire to imitate what they see their parents and older siblings doing and Dr. Montessori discovered after many years of observing children all over the world, that given the choice, they were always drawn to real, purposeful work rather than 'pretend play'.

In The Garden

 
As you will have already seen in the first year of life, the infant is driven from within to master coordinated movement. This opportunity to move freely, developing both fine and gross motor skills is not just important from a physical standpoint, but also from a psychological one. Mastering the ability to walk unaided, climb stairs, and jump with two feet leads to a greater sense of self confidence, a stronger self-esteem and an opportunity to socially engage with friends.

At Village Montessori children spend part of the morning outside throughout the year.

There is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.

This is the time when they can care for the garden or choose from a variety of equipment – vehicles, tricycles, a play house, the sand box, a climbing tree... and this is also the time when they develop social skills. Learning how to take turns requires lots of practice for toddlers and using words to express your needs is always encouraged.

Language

Children between the ages of 18 months and 3 years old are in a sensitive period for language. They are absorbing everything that they hear around them with the appropriate accent and grammar of their culture. In many cases, young children are exposed to more than one language and are able to communicate in both with ease, an accomplishment that requires a considerable conscious effort for an adult.

At Village Montessori, we role model clear and accurate language and enjoy songs, finger plays and reading stories.

Lunch

Lunch is another opportunity to come together as a community. Children learn the grace and courtesy necessary to sit together at a meal with friends. They bring their own lunch and are assisted with transferring nutritious food from a lunch box to a plate, with place mats, napkins and a glass for water. A snack is provided and consumed earlier in the day.

Bubble Time

For young children it is very important that they have a sense of the order to their day. A predictable routine allows them to quickly anticipate what comes next and therefore feel safe and secure. After lunch we go outside and blow bubbles, which signify it is time to get picked up and go home. Very quickly they learn that Mom, Dad or the caregiver come back at “bubble time” and this eases the separation process at the beginning of the day.