The Children’s House offers a full-year modified Montessori based Preschool, Kindergarten through Eighth Grade ungraded elementary, and a comprehensive summer enrichment program.
Our preschool is a modified Montessori based preschool for children 3 through 5 years of age. The program provides the groundwork for learning through the use of hands-on materials that engage all the facets of a child’s intelligence. The preschool environment is a kind and quiet classroom where children can begin their journey toward independence, a sense of self and the larger educational world.
Shenena Hadley, our preschool teacher is a certified Montessori preschool teacher. She is certified through the North American Montessori Center. She completed her classes and received her certification in April of 2010.
The children, from 5 to 14 years old, are divided in 4 groups for a community in which the older children spontaneously share their knowledge with the younger ones. Scientific evidence suggests that multi-aged classes create an environment in which children not only learn from one another, but also develop better social skills. There is constant interaction, problem solving, child to child teaching, and socialization.
Children are challenged according to their ability and never bored. Moreover, multi-age grouping allows each child to find his or her own pace without feeling ahead or behind in relation to peers. In this positive and unique setting, the children not only become better learners, but also grow towards self-actualization or the ability to seek out and fulfill their own higher needs, both educationally and socially.
Research studies show that children who learn in this way are well prepared for later life academically, socially, and emotionally. In addition to scoring well on standardized tests, Montessori children are ranked above average on such criteria as following directions, turning in work on time, listening attentively, using basic skills, showing responsibility, asking provocative questions, showing enthusiasm for learning and adapting to new situations.
At The Children’s House, education of character is considered equal to academic education. Children learn to take care of themselves, animals, their environment & each other. Cooking, cleaning, building, gardening, moving gracefully, speaking politely, being considerate and helpful, and doing social work in the community are also highly valued. At The Children’s House we treasure the unique characteristics of each child.
One-on-one teaching offers opportunities for unique interaction. In addition, the layout and organization of the classrooms ensures that every student has a front row seat. As proven in many studies, one of the most effective forms of education is student-teacher interaction. Small class sizes lead to higher graduation rates, and students who perceive themselves as successful are more likely to pursue college.
Unlike traditional schools, the environment is arranged according to subject areas, and children are always free to move around the room and from one room to another instead of being stuck at a desk. There is no limit to how long a child can work with a piece of material. At any one time in a day, all subjects — math, language, science, history, geography, art & music are available at all levels.
There are no grades at The Children’s House. Instead the child’s effort and work is respected as it is. The teacher, through extensive observation and record-keeping, plans work to enable each child to learn what he needs in order to improve, guiding a child’s research and exploration and capitalizing on the child’s excitement about a subject. The test of whether or not the system is working lies in the accomplishments and behavior of the child, his/her happiness, maturity, kindness, and love of learning. At The Children’s House, we are happy to provide an environment in which our children learn to thrive!
The students set contracts for class attendance with their homeroom teacher to guide their required work, to balance their general work, and to teach them to become responsible for their own time management and education.
Each week students and faculty gather to discuss school plans, voice concerns, and present student work. Every student and teacher participates in a democratic fashion.