The Montessori School of Washington, DC

The Montessori School of Washington aims to introduce children to the joy of learning at an early age and assists the child in creating an inner order. This self-discipline becomes the basis of freedom, within a framework, for children to learn through their senses according to their own timetable of growth and level of interest. By achieving continuous success in learning experiences, the child will develop self-confidence and competence, attributes which are carried into maturity. When children acquire self-mastery and self-respect, they then respect others. IN THE CLASSROOM, EACH CHILD FOLLOWS A NATURAL PROGRESSION THROUGH FOUR CATEGORIES OF LEARNING The Practical Life Exercises involve simple tasks relating to care and maintenance of each child's environment. They give each child a sense of organization and concentration, as well as an appreciation of a completed cycle of activity. The Sensorial Materials help each child organize, categorize and refine the perceptions of his senses, e.g., colors, sounds, geometric shapes and relative sizes. The Language Materials prepare each child for writing and reading. Children are made aware of phonetics, vocabulary and the functions of words. In Mathematics, each child is exposed to concrete materials that introduce counting and the association of numbers with quantities. The program then progresses to more abstract concepts in preparation for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. MSOW's goal is to develop patterns of concentration and thoroughness in early childhood in order to produce a competent and confident learner in later years. THE GOALS OF OUR PROGRAMS ARE: Provide opportunities for each child to be successful, creating a positive self-image. Help each child become competent, independent and self-confident and to learn to respect freedom with responsibility. Encourage each child's natural curiosity and love of learning within a structure but with flexibility. Provide natural, ungraded, vertical grouping of children so that they may learn from each other. Encourage independent study as well as group cooperation to foster self-discipline.