Primary Curriculum

The child-centered Montessori educational movement, begun by Italian pediatrician Maria Montessori at the beginning of this century and proved through generations of children, is rooted in a recognition that the drive to development and acquisition of knowledge is innate in all children. Dr. Montessori found that this drive can best be cultivated by providing children with tools for learning tailored to particular stages of development.

In a Montessori classroom, the teacher serves as guide, presenting a variety of materials and activities to her students. Understanding the nature of children, the teacher provides activities appropriate to their needs. She guides her students toward mastery of themselves and their environment.

Children direct their own work by touching, manipulating, and experimenting with materials that are self-teaching and self-correcting. They develop physically, intellectually, and socially. In the classroom, children are free to work independently or with others, to move about, to speak, to help others, and to seek help from adults or classmates.

Dr. Montessori found that children three to six naturally direct their efforts to developing strength and precision of body and of mind. She created exercises of "Practical Life" such as washing, pouring, polishing, and folding, to give the children opportunities to focus themselves on worthwhile tasks, refining both coordination and concentration. "Sensorial" exercises allow children to discover and internalize abstractions, such as dimension, color, sound, and shape. "Lessons of Grace and Courtesy" appeal to children's interest in relationships and help them develop valuable social skills.

Children's unconsciously absorbed language becomes conscious in the primary years. In the Montessori classroom, children work with carefully designed materials such as sandpaper and moveable letters that enhance their conscious exploration of spoken and written language.

The ingenious Montessori mathematical materials lead children to understanding of the decimal system and arithmetic operations. Through mathematics, children's abilities to perceive and express precise relationships are developed.

As the children's intellectual capacities, attention spans and physical abilities increase, exercises in language, mathematics and all disciplines of human endeavor help them build skills and ideas which will allow them freedom to explore the larger world and join in the greater work of society.

Montessori primary classrooms are communities of children. Children who are busily and happily engaged in purposeful, orderly and spontaneous activity.

Elementary Curriculum

Children ready for the elementary classroom turn outward, ready for new horizons of research and discovery. They are full of questions and ready to be inspired by stories, lessons and materials to seek answers through reason and imagination. Their questions drive the work of the classroom; each endeavor develops new skills and raises new questions.

Working in partnerships and teams, the children share struggles and successes, and in consequence learn to support, respect and depend upon one another. Together, they are capable of wonderfully complex tasks. Much of the work of the elementary class is accomplished through large projects, requiring cooperation and planning, and allowing the integration of different subjects as well as the development of deeper understanding.

At this stage of development, children's goals are to further develop skills, to gain confidence, to confirm their own value, and to recognize the value of others. As maturity of spirit and mind develop, we see these children become young women and men ready to contribute their good share to the broad world.

We teach even our youngest children to initiate activities, set goals, organize time, complete projects and recognize individual strengths and weaknesses, so that they might learn self-direction. We encourage our students to work to the best of their abilities; they develop determination. Our students' struggle with difficult work, recognizing and enjoying the rewards such struggle brings; they learn persistence. We require students to evaluate information and seek out different opinions and facts before making decisions; they acquire logic. We foster the use of imagination to generate fresh ideas; children tap creativity. We lead children to pursue knowledge with enthusiasm; they develop a love of learning. We help our children integrate the emotional, spiritual, intellectual and physical; they achieve balance.

Social, as well as academic skills are important to our school. We encourage students to recognize in people, including themselves, unique and special individuals. We direct children toward humor that is not humiliating to others, but rather uplifting for all. We help students develop and adhere to a solid code of ethics. We require that children evaluate and accept the consequences of their actions.

Omni Montessori's students, faculty, staff, and parents understand that the work and learning we do in our school can have an impact on society, and benefit future generations. Lessons are planned to help our students develop an understanding of the interdependence of humans, animals, plants, and the natural systems of the Earth. Our curriculum fosters respect for the ways humans meet their spiritual and physical needs in various cultures. We recognize that everyone has the right to make their own choices as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others. We teach our children to communicate clearly and respectfully with individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Students must be courteous; they are encouraged to be caring.

Adolescent Curriculum

The Omni Montessori School Program for Adolescents offers a rich and challenging hands-on educational experience to its students. Our approach builds on the Montessori Elementary curriculum to provide a course of study that offers exceptional depth and opportunities for personal engagement. The three-year curriculum is unmatched in its ability to meet adolescents where they are and prepare them for what lies ahead. Academic components include integrated science, interdisciplinary humanities, mathematics from Pre-algebra through Geometry and Algebra II, Spanish, literature and language arts studies, a wide range of arts offerings, and a diversity of physical education experiences. The program has a unique approach to delivering the above components. This approach attracts the attention of adolescent students and provides them with a means by which to relate to their studies.

More information of the Adolescent program is here.