Desert Sky Montessori

The system of education is both a philosophy of child growth and a rationale for guiding such growth. It is based on the child's developmental needs for freedom within limits; and a carefully prepared environment that guarantees exposure to materials and experiences, through which to develop intelligence as well as physical and psychological abilities. It is designed to take full advantage of the self-motivation and unique ability of children to develop their own capabilities. The child needs adults to expose him to the possibilities of the child's life, but the child himself must direct his response to those possibilities.

The basic idea in the Montessori philosophy of education is that all children carry within themselves the person they will become. In order to develop physical, intellectual and spiritual potential to the fullest, the child must have freedom: freedom to be achieved through order and self-discipline. The world of the child, according to Montessori educators, is full of sights and sounds, which at first appear chaotic. From this chaos children must gradually create order, learn to distinguish among the impressions that assail their senses, and slowly but surely gain mastery of themselves and their environment.

We have one primary classroom with a 1:8 teacher to student ratio. The child's social and psychological needs are considered as important as the child's academic needs. Among other factors, we consider:

• The ratio of girls to boys
• The balance of ages
• The specific needs of each child
• The child's position in her family, i.e., only child, youngest child, oldest child.

1. To develop a respectful, responsive and reciprocal care-giving relationship with each child placed in our care.
2. To provide a calm and peaceful atmosphere that allows for consistent and predictable routines of care to be established and maintained in a safe and nurturing way.
3. To provide a prepared environment that allows each child freedom to move and to explore, freedom to interact with others and objects, and to have time for uninterrupted individual play. An environment that is appropriate and challenging.
4. To provide a setting that allows the child to develop as an active participant in her care, rather than a passive recipient.
5. To observe and evaluate the development of each child and support parents and families to be part of this growth and development.