About Us
Clarkston Montessori School was established to provide a healthy, nurturing and enriching learning experience for children in a homelike setting. The environment is especially prepared for the children – all furnishings are set up at the child’s level, all materials are developmentally appropriate and especially designed to enrich the child’s intellectual, emotional, social and developmental needs. The classroom setting and outside environment encourage the children to explore, discover, learn and have fun.The areas of the classroom include Practical Life, Dramatic Play, Arts and Crafts, Music and Movement, Sensorial, Language (Reading and Writing, Grammar, Comprehension, & Journal Writing), Science, History, Geography and Community Service. The Outside Learning Areas include Social Village, Art Area, Physical Play Structures, Gardening and Nature Studies. The areas of the classroom and outside areas are what Maria Montessori calls “the prepared environment” which will encourage the spontaneous learning of the child.
The materials are age appropriate and the environment is prepared for the child in order to encourage him/her to work and play in the different areas of learning. All activities are geared towards the development of both fine and gross motor development.
The teacher is the presenter of the developmentally appropriate Montessori materials but the child is the initiator – the one who makes the choice of working with the materials. As soon as he initiates an activity, the teacher steps aside and observes listens and tunes in to the child’s activity.
Learning “happens” when the child starts working with the materials. The child explores, discovers, applies and absorbs what the material seeks to teach. The child literally absorbs what is in the environment. The child affirms the knowledge on his/her own initiative. The child takes responsibility for his own learning.
The teacher acts as a guide during this time of spontaneous learning. The teacher facilitates the child’s learning in the Montessori environment.
The family holds a crucial role in the child’s development. The teacher needs the family’s support in order to reaffirm the child’s learning in the classroom and extend this learning and application at home. The teacher and the family need to work together and support each other for the benefit of the child. Class activities will encourage family participation and involvement to provide consistent and loving support for the child.
A bond of respect weaves through the learning environment, between the child, teacher, and the family. This is the circle of respect – the child being the center of the Montessori learning community.