About WFIS: Constituencies
 
ACSI CSI Catholic Lutheran Montessori PNAIS SDA     WALDORF

The Montessori Schools of Washington

After careful study and observation of children, Dr. Maria Montessori developed the Montessori Philosophy of Education. To meet developmental needs of students, the classroom is carefully prepared to provide for social, emotional, physical, spiritual, and intellectual growth. Specialized materials present students opportunities to discover abstract concepts in concrete ways. These “materialized abstractions” prepare the young learner for more advanced concepts such as math, geometry and reading. For example, the Cube Tower, which is used initially by 3-year-old children, represents the sequential cubing of 1 – 10 cm. The student stores muscular memories of the materials, and later spontaneously draws upon the information when studying the concept of cubing.

During the years between 3 and 6, the young child develops traits essential to future learning.

During these years the child also learns basic reading skills; develops an understanding of the decimal system and concrete computation skills; and receives individualized and group lessons in geometry, geography, botany and zoology. The teachers’ role is to become the dynamic link between the student and appropriate learning materials. These classroom experiences “give children the world” and prepare them for life.

During the elementary years, teachers spark the students’ imagination by sharing secrets of the universe. By age six, children can “imagine” and learn about the wonders of the Solar System and the intricacies of an atom. Montessori materials serve as the child’s link from concrete to abstract learning. An integrated curriculum assists children in understanding their world, it’s history, it’s inhabitants, and concerns for its’ future. Children build on their basic intellectual skills as they research, write, compare, analyze, compute, consolidate and compare the results of their studies. Moral issues emerge at this time, so opportunities for cooperation and teamwork are embraced.

For more information:

MACTE (Montessori Teacher Accreditation Council for Teacher Education)

Pacific Northwest Montessori Association

Mr. Michael Eanes, National Director
American Montessori Society
281 Park Ave. S.
New York, N.Y. 10010
(212) 358-1250

Jeannine Hanson, Director
Bellevue Montessori School
2411 - 112th Ave. N.E.
Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 454-7439

Gulsevin Kayihan, Director
Spring Valley Montessori
36605 Pacific Hwy. S.
Federal Way, WA 98003
(253) 927-2557