Whitegate Montessori Land School
WHITEGATE MONTESSORI LAND SCHOOL
PRIMARY
ages 3 – 6½
Program
Whitegate Montessori Land School approaches education from the premise that children thrive when they become the lead participant in their acquisition of knowledge. As educators, we are here to provide a rich environment for the children and guide each child through this environment along his or her unique path of discovery and self-development.
In the Primary classroom, a child interacts with the environment through hands-on exploration. This interaction leads to a profound level of learning. Concrete experiences that engage the mind, the body and the senses coupled with self-motivated exploration and self-discovery lead to true integration of knowledge and a life-long love of learning.
The children truly make the environment their own, choosing independently from activities that they have been shown by their teachers. They pass freely from practical activities such as cutting vegetables, washing a table, sewing or sweeping, to working with language and mathematics, geography and botany.
Social interactions arise naturally as children work together or side by side. Everything, from waiting your turn in line to helping a friend tie his shoelaces, provides the children with opportunities to develop peaceful social skills. Teachers present both social and academic lessons to children individually and in groups.
Options
Half Day
8:30am-11:30am
This program is offered five days a week for children ages 3 through 4. The children have the opportunity for class time in the morning and leave before lunch.
Half Day Plus
8:30am-1:00pm
This program is offered five days a week for children ages 3 through 4. The children have the opportunity for class time in the morning and the social activities of lunch and outdoor playground time.
School Day
8:30am - 3:30pm
This program is offered five days a week for children ages 3 through Kindergarten and includes the opportunity for class time in the morning and the social activities of lunch and outdoor playground time. In the afternoon the younger students nap while the older students return to the classroom to continue with their work.
Early Care/Late Stay
7:30am - 8:30am
3:30pm - 4:30pm
Whitegate Montessori Land School offers extended care to support our working families. During the extended day periods, the children enjoy their rich classroom environment and outdoor play opportunities.
Why five days?
Children thrive on consistency. Since the primary goal of Montessori involves creating a culture of consistency, order, and empowerment, we only offer a five-day schedule; research and our own experience has shown that the benefits to the child are immeasurable.
Children love to learn by exploring and deeply concentrating on their chosen activities. We offer them the freedom to repeat those activities without interruption until they master them. This supports a child’s natural learning process.
Starting a new learning activity is easier with consistency. It helps children maintain their enthusiasm and interest if they are allowed to continue. Waiting entire days between stages of activities causes them consternation, just as it does to you. The process of developing longer and longer attention spans is also thwarted when whole days intervene. The Montessori program is designed to meet each child’s interest at his or her particular age. Missing out on many of these activities simply limits the customized possibilities that a child can enjoy.
We invite you to see what a Montessori education can offer your child.