| |
| How can I
learn more about Montessori education? |
| What will I see when I visit the
school? |
| Is there anything I should do
to prepare for my visit? |
| Does CMS follow a private
school calendar? |
| What opportunities are
there to get involved and contribute to the school? |
|
| How can I learn more about Montessori
education? |
| Montessori education is a mixed-age, child-oriented, hands-on approach to
education, first developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, starting in 1907. The
education is non-departmentalized, and provides an opportunity for children to
follow their interests and experience uninterrupted concentration. Below is a
list of resources for further information: |
|
| Association Montessori Internationale (website) |
| Secret of Childhood, by Maria
Montessori |
| Montessori Today, by Paula Polk
Lillard |
| Children: The Challenge, by
Rudolf Dreikurs |
| Montessori From the Start, by
Paula Polk Lillard |
| Endangered Minds, by Jane M.
Healy |
|
| For additional books by Maria Montessori, click here |
| |
Here at CMS, we offer several "Montessori Evenings for Parents," where our parents learn about the Montessori method of teaching from our own directresses and also from national experts in the field. These evenings provide parents with an understanding of what and how their children are learning.
We also have a Family Library, where parents can check out books and DVDs related to Montessori in particular and parenting in general.
Once each month, parents can join our Head of School for a Morning Coffee. These informal Coffees may feature a question-and-answer time, open discussion, or even demonstrations of lessons and materials by the children.
Of course, one of the best ways to learn about Montessori is to observe a classroom in action. We encourage both current and prospective parents to visit the classrooms to see the dynamic, purposeful learning taking place in a peaceful, respectful atmosphere. |
|
| What will I see when I visit the
school? |
| When you visit the school, you will have an opportunity to observe a Montessori
classroom in action. Our mixed age classrooms are set up quite differently from
traditional classrooms. The teacher is not at the front of the room, but rather
moves throughout the room, giving lessons to individual children or small
groups. Independent and collaborative work creates a busy hum of activity as
children work with a variety of different materials, each of which is designed
to build a specific skill. |
|
| Is there anything I should do to
prepare for my visit? |
| Allow about 45 minutes to one hour for your visit. Click here to download observation guidelines-these will be helpful in
your understanding of the Montessori classroom you will be observing. |
|
| Does CMS follow a private school
calendar? |
| CMS follows a traditional private school calendar. All of our programs are five
days per week. Click here for
information about options for extended care before and after school. Click here for information about our summer program. To see the fulll calendar CLICK HERE. |
|
| What opportunities are there
to get involved and contribute to the school? |
| CMS benefits from a great deal of involvement and support on the part of
parents. There are ample opportunities to volunteer and help coordinate
activities at the school, including driving for field trips, setting up events,
and advising on a number of topics. CMS has an annual fund (the Pink Tower
Fund) which goes to support a number of initiatives for the benefit of the
children at the school. |
|
| chesterfield montessori school: |
| 14000 ladue road chesterfield, mo
63017 |
| 314.469.7150 P
314.469.7851 F |
info@chesterfieldmontessori.org
|
