As parents of young children, you make many decisions that help shape and grow your child as they develop. One of those is choosing a preschool option. Lots of different types of early childhood centers exist which can lead to some confusion about your options and which ones will suit your family the best. For those in the Danville area, you have the option of a high quality Montessori education for your child when you choose Fountainhead Montessori.

Why Montessori?

Although many parents have seen references to Montessori on social media or around your neighborhood, few have a solid understanding of what it means to choose a Montessori education. Montessori preschools have some unique characteristics that set it apart from other types of early childhood learning centers:

• children of mixed ages in a classroom together
• hands-on learning materials
• large emphasis on social and emotional learning
• lessons in geography and peace education that provide unique cultural experiences for children
• individualized instruction tailored to each child
• highly qualified early education teachers

These are a few of the reasons why millions of people all around the world have chosen a Montessori education for the last century.

What Can I Expect from a Montessori School Experience?

The specific experiences of families can vary from one school to another, but Montessori schools share some characteristics across the board.

 Mixed-Age Classrooms: Rather than grouping by one grade at a time, Montessori classrooms place children in classes with children in their same developmental stage. The primary Montessori classroom is intended to serve children for three years. This gives the children an opportunity to see behaviors modeled by older children and grow into a role model for younger children as they grow in maturity. This cycle helps a class settle quickly and cultivates a culture of mutual respect and responsibility.

Practical Life Lessons: An important part of a Montessori experience is the lessons in practical life. These allow children to practice skills that serve them in their everyday life. The practical life lessons include opportunities for children to learn how to care for themselves and their environment. They help maintain a clean classroom and gain a sense of responsibility for themselves and others. These lessons are foundational for a Montessori education.

Grace and Courtesy Lessons: The grace and courtesy lessons refer to the explicit lessons children receive about how to interact with those around them. Teachers provide examples of social interactions such as interrupting a teacher politely or greeting a friend for the children to practice. These help children learn social norms and manners.

Interesting Curriculum Options: Beyond the typical letter and number lessons, children in a Montessori environment have the opportunity to be exposed to many topics such as science, geography, peace education, music and movement. Some schools even offer language immersion programs to allow the child to learn a new language.

These are just a few of the things you can expect from a high quality Montessori education at Fountainhead. If you would like to explore if FMS is a good option to send your child for preschool in Danville, our staff is ready to answer your questions and provide you with a tour. Contact us today.