Mission Statement
The mission of Shalom Montessori is to provide an excellent Jewish Montessori environment in which to celebrate and foster each child’s natural love of learning. We are dedicated to preparing children for lifelong learning by teaching cooperation, challenging intellects, nurturing the desire to learn and engendering self-confidence. We achieve this in an environment that is safe, fun, rewards curiosity and where the teachers care deeply about the development of the whole child. We have unshakable faith in the giftedness of all children and their ability to realize their fullest potential in a child-centered environment where it is safe for them to explore with all their senses, have successes, make mistakes and celebrate learning.
Program Goals
- Create a safe environment based on derech eretz
- Establish an environment that allows students to develop order, concentration, coordination and independence
- Instill a love for Judaism and our Heritage
- Provide experiences that will foster a sense of responsibility to self, others, family, and community
- Provide an environment that nourishes multicultural diversity; honoring and incorporating all our various ethnic backgrounds and minhagim
- Establish natural freedom of movement within the structured learning environment
Comparison between Montessori and Traditional Methods
Montessori Traditional
Child sets own learning pace to internalize information Instruction pace usually set by group norm or teacher
Child works as long as he or she wishes on chosen project Child generally given specific time period for work
Child formulates own concepts from self teaching materials Child is guided to concepts by teacher
Teacher has unobtrusive role in classroom activities: child is an active participant in learning Teacher has dominant, active role in classroom activity: child is a passive participant in learning
Child chooses own work from interest and abilities Curriculum structured for children with little regard to childs interest
Mixed age grouping Same age grouping
Children are encouraged to teach, collaborate and help each other Most teaching is done by teacher and collaboration is discouraged
Child can work where he or she is comfortable, moves around and talks at will (yet disturbs not the work of others); group work is voluntary and negotiable Child usually assigned own chair; encouraged to sit still and listen during group sessions
Child spots own errors through feedback from material If work is corrected, errors usually pointed out by teacher
Learning is reinforced internally through a repetition of activity and internal feelings of success Learning is reinforced externally by rote repetition and rewards/discouragements.
Instruction both individual and group, adapts to each childs learning style Instruction both individual and group conforms to adults teaching style
Environment and method encourage internal self discipline Teacher acts as enforcer of discipline
Emphasis on cognitive structure and social development Emphasis on rote knowledge and social development
Multi-sensory materials for physical exploration Fewer materials for sensory development and concrete manipulation
Organized program for learning care of self and environment (brushing teeth, washing dishes after eating, responsible for keeping classroom clean, etc.) Less emphasis on self care instruction and classroom maintenance
Parental involvement and understanding Montessori learning philosophy encouraged and offered Parental involvement minimal at outside events like fundraisers and no effort placed on parental understanding of learning process.