The focus of the Montessori Method is the self-development of the whole child. The Montessori teachers help each child acquire the independence, confidence and motivation needed to fulfill his or her own potential through observation, guidance and planning lessons. The attractive, developmentally-appropriate, prepared Montessori classroom environment and materials stimulate the child's curiosity to make choices according to their own interests and to learn at their own pace. The school's staff and our routines provide the necessary guidelines and ground rules for the child to move freely in the environment, to make choices and solve problems, thus laying the foundation for a lifetime of creative learning.
The aim of Montessori education is to foster competent, responsible, adaptive citizens who are lifelong learners and problem solvers. Learning occurs in an inquiring, cooperative, nurturing atmosphere. Students increase their own knowledge through self- and teacher-initiated experiences. For children, much learning takes place through the senses.Students learn by exploring the specially designed, concrete Montessori materials and through social interactions in their classroom community. The individual child is considered as a whole in that, their physical, emotional, social, aesthetic, spiritual and cognitive needs and interests are inseparable and equally important. Respect and caring attitudes for oneself, others, the environment, and all of life, is necessary in guiding the children to fulfill their potential intellectually, emotionally, socially, physically and spiritually.
Our three large, bright, multi-aged, well-prepared classroom environments each house a Montessori preschool/kindergarten community of learners. The classrooms offer a wide variety of activities and experiences through which the child develops his or her mental, emotional, social and physical abilities. The materials are designed to stimulate a child's curiosity and problem-solving skills. The Montessori Lead Teacher carefully prepares the classroom environment to make sure it is orderly, attractive and that it offers activities developmentally appropriate to the individual children in their classroom. Each classroom has a capacity of 30 children with three adults, one Montessori lead teacher and two early childhood teachers or assistants. We maintain a ratio of 1:10 or better, depending upon enrollment.
Children come into the classroom at 8:45am, hang up their coats, wash their hands and come to our large group circle time. At these times we take attendance, talk about the day's weather, calendar, share news, and discuss topics we are studying. Children are then dismissed from this group time to start their uninterrupted work time. During this period of time, children choose activities from the Montessori learning areas and receive one on one or small group lessons from the classroom teachers. Another large group time occurs at the end of the preschool time, during which we hold "share chair," where children who have written stories may share them, music, songs and large motor movement activities, and read stories. We then get ready to go home or to stay for lunch. The afternoon preschool and kindergarten classes follow this same format. The kindergarten children come together in the afternoon for more academic work in math and language, science and cultural areas as well as extension in the sensorial, practical life and art areas.
Each classroom offers a prepared environment
that includes these areas:
- Practical Life
- Sensorial
- Language
- Math
- Science
- Culture
- Art
The Montessori Classroom must have these basic characteristics at all levels:
- Teachers educated in the Montessori philosophy and methodology appropriate to the age level they are teaching, who have the ability and dedication to put the key concepts in to practice.
- A partnership with the family. The family is considered an integral part of the child's total development.
- A multi-aged, multi-graded, heterogeneous group of students.
- A diverse set of Montessori materials, activities and experiences, which are designed to foster physical, intellectual, creative and social independence.
- A schedule that allows large blocks of uninterrupted time to problem solve, to see the interdisciplinary connections of knowledge and to create new ideas.
- A classroom atmosphere that encourages social interaction for cooperative learning, peer teaching, and emotional development.
Each of our three preschool classrooms at Louisville Montessori School are managed by one Lead Teacher and two Assistants. Our Lead Teachers are Montessori-certified for this primary age group, and also have Bachelor degrees and/or Early Childhood Education college classes. Our Classroom Assistants are all Early Childhood Teachers, or working towards that goal, by attending local colleges. All staff members are required to obtain continuing education hours each year, and are certified in First Aid, CPR and Universal Precautions.
The school's owner, Judy Cole, has a bachelor's degree in Nursing, is an RN, as well as being Director-qualified for large daycare centers. Our Director, Theresa Cole, has Associate Degrees in Early Childhood Education, General Education, Medical Billing and is Director-qualified for large daycare centers. Our Assistant Director, Nicole Brannan, has an Associates Degree in General Education, as well as being Director-qualified for large daycare centers. Together, we manage the staff and plan the education curriculum, as well as manage the day-to-day business needs of the school.
Welcome to Louisville Montessori School!
Our Montessori Classrooms
Louisville Montessori School, Inc. (formerly Louisville Montessori School & Daycare Center, Inc.) was established in January of 1983 by a group of parents, a Montessori teacher and an engineer who created a quality preschool, kindergarten and child care center to serve Louisville and the surrounding communities. We are a non-sectarian, non-discriminatory school, governed by a Board of Directors, three of whom are the original founders, and offer programs for children 3 to 6 years of age. Louisville Montessori School is affiliated with the American Montessori Society and licensed by the Colorado Department of Human Services. We welcome children of any race, color, religion, gender, ethnic origin, nationality or disability who would benefit from the school's programs and activities.