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Respect for the child is the cornerstone of Heartwood's philosophy.
At all levels and all areas, Heartwood places the needs of the child first. The staff believes
that children, not subjects are taught.
The Montessori Method is based on careful observation of and respect for the natural
development of the child and has been used in schools around the world for over 90 years.
The Montessori approach recognizes that a child is more responsive to certain learning
experiences at particular times or "sensitive periods." Careful observation allows
the Montessori-trained teacher to recognize these sensitive periods when a child
is ready for a new learning experience. The teacher then can direct the child toward
materials that will satisfy his or her developmental needs.
Heartwood Montessori School was founded in 1991 by a small team of teachers who were not only dedicated to the Montessori Philosophy but also to creating an environment that was a loving, comfortable place for children, parents and teachers alike. The teachers at Heartwood are trained Montessorians, certified through the American Montessori
Society. The ability of the staff, combined with their commitment and dedication to the educational
and social welfare of the students at Heartwood, provides an environment that promotes a love of learning. The Montessori Method, by the American Montessori Society
One basic idea of the Montessori philosophy is that carried unseen within each child is the person that child can become. To develop his/her physical, intellectual and spiritual powers to the fullest, the child must have freedom – a freedom achieved through order and self-discipline. The child’s world is full of sights and sounds which at first appear chaotic. From this chaos the child gradually creates order and learns to distinguish among the impressions that assail his/her senses, slowly gaining mastery of self and of her/his environment.
Dr. Montessori developed what she called “the prepared environment”. Among its features is an ordered arrangement of learning materials in a non-competitive atmosphere which helps each child develop at his/her own rate.
“Never let the child risk failure until he has a reasonable chance of success,” said Dr. Montessori, understanding the need to acquire basic skills before participating in a competitive learning situation. The years between three and six are those when a child learns the ground rules of human behavior most easily. These years can be devoted to constructively to preparing the child to take his/her place in society through the acquisition of good manners and habits.
Children who have had a benefit of a Montessori environment are freer later to devote themselves to the development of their intellectual faculties. The method by which children are taught in the Montessori school might be called “programmed learning”. Its structure involved the use of many materials with which the child may work by his/herself. The teaching materials are designed to test understanding and to correct the child’s error at every step.
Dr. Montessori recognized that self-motivation is the only valid impulse to learning. Children move themselves toward learning. The teacher prepares the environment, programs the activities, functions as the reference person and exemplar, and offers the child stimulation. But it is the child who learns, motivated through the work itself, to persist in his/her chosen task. The Montessori child is free to learn because he/she has acquired an “inner discipline” from exposure to both physical and mental order. This is the core of Montessori’s educational philosophy. Habits of concentration, stick-to-itiveness, and thoroughness established in early childhood produce a confident and competent learner in later years. Historically, schools have taught child to observe, to think, to judge. Montessori introduces children to the joy of learning at an early age and provides a framework in which intellectual and social discipline goes hand in hand.
The American Montessori Society emphasizes the importance of Montessori insights for children of all ages, and adults. Although traditionally children begin Montessori education at about three, the principles of self-motivated learning apply to all learning experiences. Modern research has validated Dr. Montessori’s principles of programmed learning and of the non-teacher (one who does not distort or inhibit the learning experience). Many public private and parochial elementary and secondary schools now use the approach.
"...education is not something the teacher does, but it is a natural process which develops
spontaneously in the human being. It is not aquired by listening to words, but by virtue
of experience in which the child acts on his environment."
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Dates and Things You Should Know..
Summer Camp
2010-11 Calendar
APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ALL YEAR
Parent Awareness Group
For details, click here.
Drama classes
CONTINUE March 9 with NEW classes
sign up with Miss Ellin
Writer's Workshop
Mondays with Miss Missy
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