 Mission Statement
The mission of Boise School District Montessori Project is
to foster self-motivated, responsible, life-long learners by
providing an opportunity for students to meet high academic
standards using the Montessori philosophy and methods of education.
Goals:
- Implement the Montessori pedagogy by providing a prepared
learning environment with materials and classroom organization
specific to the Montessori method and a highly qualified,
dual certified (Idaho State Certification & Montessori
Certification) teacher with classroom aide.
- Establish and integrate the program, administration, building
staff and Montessori project staff.
- Achieve strong academic performance validated through
appropriate assessments using a Montessori curriculum aligned
with District and State standards.
- Provide on-going community education regarding the project.
- Create and maintain high parental involvement and collaboration
in the program and advisory governance.
- Provide Montessori professional development.
Montessori Philosophy
The Montessori Method of education was developed in 1907 by
Dr Maria Montessori, the first woman in Italy to become a physician.
She based her educational methods on scientific observation of
children's learning processes. Guided by her discovery that children
teach themselves, Dr. Montessori designed a "prepared environment" in
which children could freely choose from a number of developmentally
appropriate activities. Now, a century after Maria Montessori's
first casa dei bambini ("children's house") in Rome,
Montessori education is universally recognized as a quality educational
method for children 2 years to adolescence. Nationally there
are over 1000 Montessori schools with approximately 300 operating
within a public school system.
" We have clearly shown that a child has a need to observe,
to reflect, to learn, to concentrate, to isolate himself, and
also from time to time suspend his activities in silence. It
is our duty to direct a child's activities, sparing his useless
efforts which would dissipate his energies, divert his instinctive
search for knowledge . . . . The education of even a very small
child, therefore, does not aim at preparing him for school
but for life."
- Maria Montessori
The key concept of the Montessori Method is that students become
actively involved in the education process. The philosophy focuses
on the development of the total child by fostering independence
and the freedom to choose through the use of specifically designed
sequential materials in a "prepared environment." The
program emphasizes the process involved in learning by hands-on
experimentation and discovery rather than just the product. Additionally,
the role of the teacher is redefined as a facilitator to provide
a prepared environment which provides the student choices about
curriculum and time management based on his or her motivation,
potential, individual ability, and need. Incorporated in the
Montessori method is the belief that every student carries within,
the person that he or she will become, and that every youngster
is born with far greater ability than is usually developed.
Key Principles of a Montessori Program
- Multi-age classroom-allows younger children to learn from
the older through observation, and for the older child to reinforce
knowledge by teaching the younger.
- Manipulative materials allowing the learning to begin with
the concrete and move to the abstract
- Freedom of Choice
- Individual and Group work
- Concentration
- Independence
- Problem Solving
- Experimentation
- Emphasis on the learning process
- Evaluation through portfolio, journaling, and teacher observations
(letter grades are not assigned)
- No extrinsic reward for learning. Learning is the reward.
Additional Information about Montessori Education
Montessori Home | Choosing
the Montessori Program | Staff | FAQ
Contact: Liberty Principal:
854-5410
Lead Teachers:
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