Student Learning

Dr. Montessori stated, “The senses, being explorers of the world, open the way to knowledge.” Montessori is multi-sensory in its approach to learning. Children are encouraged to touch, see, hear, smell, and taste to the fullest extent possible as they interact with hands-on instructional materials. Gross and fine motor movements are built into a range of activities to strengthen neural pathways for new learning. The Sensorial curriculum trains and refines the child’s senses as tools to investigate their world and forms the backdrop for deeper exploration in geometry, math, language, and the fine arts.

The Montessori learning environment is rich in language. The curriculum includes vocabulary, word study, grammar, reading, writing, and handwriting. Students hone listening and speaking skills in classroom discussions throughout the day. Manipulative materials, such as objects and pictures, Sandpaper Letters, and the Moveable Alphabet introduce sound and letter recognition and writing composition to young learners. Individualized and small group reading instruction focuses on phonics and comprehension. Elementary students conduct research, have access to a range of technology, and develop public speaking skills. Each classroom contains its own library with a diverse collection of literature and genres. Spanish is part of the curriculum.

The Montessori math curriculum showcases hands-on learning at its finest. Instructional activities progress beautifully from the concrete – what can be seen and touched – to the abstract – what is understood purely with the mind. Whether students are learning about numbers 1-10 or analyzing the trinomial formula in algebra, mathematical concepts are first introduced with hands-on instructional materials. Rather than relying on memorization, students deeply understand the concepts and processes of mathematics.

The Montessori learning environment is globally minded. Students participate in cultural units of study with their classmates throughout the year. Hands-on instructional materials, like the Land and Water Forms and continent Puzzle Maps, bring to life abstract concepts in geography. History is introduced to Toddler and Preschool students through the study of time. Elementary students explore a variety of historical periods and begin to form an understanding of their own place in history. Off campus field trips for Elementary students expand the learning environment beyond the walls of the classroom into the local community. Each year, Upper Elementary students embark on a trip to complement a unit of study in the classroom.

Students explore concepts of botany, zoology, physical science, chemistry, and astronomy through a rich array of hands-on learning materials. Skills of asking questions, creating hypotheses, collecting data, making observations, and drawing conclusions are developed as students conduct experiments and share what they know. Our beautiful outdoor environment provides the perfect natural space to test ideas and apply knowledge in a real-world setting. Elementary students explore big concepts, like the Theory of the Big Bang, as they form an understanding of where they come from and of their own place in the world. Each year, Upper Elementary students travel to a destination, such as Pigeon Key Marine Science Center or Space Camp, to complement a unit of study in the classroom.

Education in the arts is integral to Montessori learning. From visual art to music to theater, the fine arts aid gross and fine motor development, deepen cognition, enhance social-emotional learning and communication, and provide a pathway for creative expression. The arts are studied as individual disciplines and are integrated into all areas of learning. Students find artistic inspiration in field trips and showcase their accomplishments in the arts in special events, like International Day and Spring Concert, throughout the year.