Red Mountain Montessori Academy felt like coming home every morning.
Cheerful artwork, seasonal decorations and photo displays ushered us in. And in a split second my daughter was off to pull one of hundreds of activities from the shelf.
That was almost five years ago. Like then, Red Mountain Montessori Academy, founded in 2000 by two passionate educators, Ms. Belinda and Ms. Angie, still holds on to its valuable program. Children there continue to learn with enthusiasm.
“The most important years for learning are from birth to age 6,” said Ms. Belinda. She was wearing a spider necklace for Halloween. “Here at our school, the children are free to work at their own pace with projects or materials they have chosen.”
Amazingly, during any activities, these young students seemed to be quietly immersed in their colorful and age-appropriate learning activities. Children worked in groups, individually, or in a one-on-one lesson with an instructor.
On a typical day, Chloe hones her phonics with scrabble letters and images, Billy indulges in coloring activities playfully absorbing six words with the letter J, and Cassie, Dale and Jonas just have puzzled together the complete world map.
After a while, children trade activities or rotate to another station. Outside, by the play area, a small group plants seedlings in a vegetable garden. Nature and animals always find their way into the classroom.
“A private day care like ours provides the best way of learning for the early years,” Ms. Belinda confirmed. “We provide a family-style environment so each child feels welcome and comfortable.”
The pedagogical team at Red Mountain Montessori Academy goes to great lengths to provide hands-on activities for all learning styles. Through the social dynamics of daily routines, the children not only acquire knowledge, but also improve their gross and fine motor skills, as well as social decorum.
No day goes by without music. Calming classical recordings may be playing in the background, or the children get to sing traditional songs. They also are offered opportunities to explore musical instruments.
Art appreciation filters in by emulating famous paintings by such greats as Van Gogh, or through various media. During this kind of art exposure, the visual concepts are adapted to the child’s perspective without appearing childish.
“In the Montessori curriculum, children are allowed to develop naturally and fully,” Ms. Belinda stated. “Children are given the opportunity to learn in their own best ways—by choice and discovery.” When certain skills are mastered, the guide gives the student a new set of challenges.
“We do everything we can to support the children in the whole-person approach to life and the world,” Ms. Angie said. “We teach them not to get frustrated, but to try again and again.” Regardless of their patience with students’ learning efforts, these instructors enforce rules precisely and consistently.
This coaching comes just at the right time. According to Montessori pedagogy, in the first six years of life, children possess unusual sensitivity and mental powers. Therefore, the preschool age is the decisive formation of intellect and character.
“Ideally, we would hope to teach each child for three years to build the strongest learning foundation we can,” said Angie. “And we also offer a very custom-tailored kindergarten program in tune with the Arizona state curriculum.”
The Red Mountain Montessori Academy did, indeed, fulfill its mission of creating a lifelong love of learning in my daughter. Susmita is as curious as ever. And she also remembers, “If it does not work this way, try another strategy.”
They learn, they play, and they don’t even notice the effort. It is so much fun. For our family, Red Mountain Montessori Academy still is the little preschool that could. Cleary, competence makes confident at any age.
Red Mountain Montessori Academy preschool and kindergarten, located at 6426 E. McDowell Road, currently has openings available. To find out more about this world-class education, go to www.redmountainmontessori.com, or arrange for a visit by calling (480) 654-1124.
MONTESSORI FUNDAMENTALS
• Children have to be respected as different from adults and as unique individuals who are different from one another.
• Children are free to work with projects and materials they have chosen.
• In a diverse, multiage classroom, children are learning from peers.
• Empowerment happens through recognition of individual learning styles.
• Beautiful materials and contact with nature instill appreciation and responsibility.