The Montessori Teacher
The Montessori teacher carefully prepares and maintains the learning environment. She is essential in bringing together the child and the materials and in guiding children's social and emotional development. Daily observations are made by the teacher in order to follow each child's initiative and to capture his or her interest when introducing appropriate materials. A material is considered appropriate, and is most easily mastered, when it corresponds to a child's particular "sensitive period" for learning. Spontaneity is key to the learning process in a Montessori environment.
To a child, the world is full of sights and sounds, which appear chaotic. From this chaos the child gradually creates order and learns to distinguish among all of the impressions that assail the senses, thus slowly gaining mastery of self and the environment. One basic idea of the Montessori philosophy is that carried unseen with each child is the person the child will become. To develop to the fullest physical, spiritual, and intellectual potential, the child must have freedom-achieved through order and self-discipline. The Montessori teacher provides the means to that end.
Our professional staff is comprised of Head Teachers, Assistant Teachers, and our Child Care team. Each person is selected with the utmost care and scrutiny under the authority of Director Marijane Schafer. Her standards are uncompromising when it comes to the well-being of you child. In addition to holding and maintaining the required California education and professional certification, each staff member possesses sound moral character, experience with our age-groups, a demonstrated proficiency in the classroom, and, above all, a commitment to children and teaching – These are the criteria by which we have built an exceptional staff.
Our Certified Montessori teachers direct each class. Our student-teacher ratio never exceeds twelve to one. Art, Music, and Physical Education teachers provide daily special classes.
On-site screening is conducted each year by local professionals for speech, hearing, vision, and dental hygiene. A family social worker and a pediatrician are affiliated with our school and can attend to a student's special needs.
