Montessori School of Flagstaff Curricula
Our Montessori education begins at a very early level. The small, nurturing setting is perfect to establish the foundation for unlocking children’s minds to the world around them. These little ones normally move about, calmly and purposefully caring for their environment.
The entire internationally acclaimed program is designed to address their gregarious nature and meet their needs for exploration, order, exactness, communication, movement, concentration, repetition, productive work, perfection / control of error, imitation, independence, and self-control.
At the Children’s House, our program is based on the philosophy that young children flourish with gentle guidance and the opportunity to work at their own pace. Dr. Montessori recognized that children have sensitive periods to absorb certain information. This is the time to fill their experiences with rich language and manipulative lessons. The brain is connected to the work of the hands.
There are five distinct areas that allow the child to grow physically, mentally, and spiritually, developing his character as well as his academic interests.
Our elementary program not only inspires academic excellence but also encourages each child’s curiosity, creativity, and imagination. Students learn to think for themselves as they answer questions that challenge them on their own or in a group. They are trained to do research, analyze what they have found, and come to conclusions based on what they discover.
The core curriculum provides instruction in all traditional subjects: reading, writing, language studies, math, geometry, history, geography, Spanish, music, art, drama, physical education, environmental studies, and computers. The children are also encouraged to care for their environment and practice their practical life skills. “Going out” into their environment is a regular part of their experience.
Our middle school is a special place. The entire program was fashioned as the first of its kind for young adults at this stage of development.
Until recently, the educational model for children this age was either an accelerated elementary school program or a “junior” high school program. Dr. Elizabeth Coe, past president of the American Montessori Society, using years of research completed by the University of North Carolina, developed a completely new educational model based on the specific needs of this age group. The model is founded on a fundamental principle: The key to development is freedom with responsibility and respect.