Preschool children possess a remarkable ability to absorb the world that surrounds them. Maria Montessori believed that the years from three to
six are the most critical period for nurturing a child's natural curiosity and for laying the foundation for all future development.
Fundamental to Montessori theory is the multi-age classroom. Each Children's House classroom includes children ages three to six, and children may work
either individually or in small groups, learning from and sharing with one another. Nature's Classroom Montessori's Children's House is held in bright
classrooms that bring the outside in. Each classroom has approximately 28 children and two trained Montessori teachers (one full day and one half day).
Discovering the joys of learning is the foundation for a happy, productive life!
Children ages three and four attend the Half Day Program, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This program includes practical life, sensorial, cultural, math, and
language activities. Three and four-year olds may also elect to participate in the Midday Program, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., which includes the noon
meal, outside play, nap and free play. A befour school care program from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. is also available. Five-and six-year old children, referred to
as "Montessori Exstended Day," participate in a full-day Children's House program from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
What Does Nature's Classroom Montessori Have to Offer...
To Children?
The main goal of Children's House program is to help children develop rapport with their environment and to support them as they develop physical, social,
and intellectual independence. The Children's House teacher intensely follows each child, presenting carefully designed lessons and materials on a one-to-one
basis as the child is ready.
An Environmental Campus?
Located in southeastern Wisconsin, Nature's Classroom Montessori is set on 380 acres of pristine woodlands, wetlands, and prairies. The built environment is
designed to bring this natural environment inside. The classroom has floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto the prairie and woodlands beyond. Our campus is
ten minutes from both the towns of Mukwonago and East Troy, and is conveniently located between these towns and exits off I-43.
To The World?
At Nature's Classroom Montessori, we believe that our children are our future. As a result, our teachers introduce global concepts, contributions and consequences
of humankind's impact on the world. Students are allowed to experience these issues first-hand whereby the ideas are no longer abstractions.
Goals of Nature's Classroom Montessori School
The main purpose of a Montessori school is to provide a carefully planned, stimulating environment which will help the child develop an excellent foundation
for creative learning. The specific goals for the children who attend a Montessori school are listed below.
- Develop within each child a positive attitude toward school: Most of the learning activities are individualized (i.e. each child engages in a learning task
that particularly appeals to him) because he finds the activities geared toward his needs and level of readiness. Consequently, he works at his own rate,
repeating the task as often as he likes, thus experiencing a series of successful achievements. In this manner, he builds a positive attitude toward learning itself.
- Help each child develop self-confidence: In the Montessori school, tasks are designed so that each new step is built upon what the child has already mastered,
thus removing the negative experience of frequent failure. Each series of successes builds inner confidence in the child, assuring him that he can learn by himself.
These confidence-building activities likewise contribute to the child's healthy emotional development.
- Assist each child in building a habit of concentration: Effective learning presupposes the ability to listen carefully and to attend to what is said or
demonstrated. Through a series of absorbing experiences, the child forms habits of extended attention, thus increasing his ability to concentrate.
- Foster an abiding curiosity with each child: In a rapidly changing society, we will all be students at some time in our lives. A deep, persistent and
abiding curiosity is a prerequisite for creative learning. By providing the child with opportunities to discover qualities, dimensions, and relationships amidst
a rich variety of stimulating learning situations, curiosity is developed and an essential element in creative learning has been established.
- Develop habits of initiative and persistence in each child: By surrounding the child with appealing materials and learning activities geared to his inner needs,
he becomes accustomed to engaging in activities on his own. Gradually, this results in a habit or initiative - an essential quality in leadership. "Ground rules" call
for completing a task once begun and replacing materials after the task is accomplished. This "completion expectation" gradually results in a habit of
persistence and perseverance.
- Foster inner security and a sense of order in each child: Through a well-ordered, enriched but simplified environment, the child's need for order and
security is intensely satisfied. This is noticed in the calming effect the environment has on the child. Since every item in the Montessori classroom has a
place and the ground rules call for everything in its place, the child's inner need for order is directly satisfied.
