By Norine Longo
What if your child’s first school experience taught them to love learning and become self sufficient?
This is what Pennington Montessori School wants for the children that are a part of its programs. The schools programs include one for toddlers 18 to 34 months, pre-primary for children ages 3 to 5 years, after school and summer camp. Just don’t call them day care.
Director Kathleen Hannah has been with Pennington Montessori for more than 20 years. The school is a part of the American Montessori Society and follows the Montessori philosophy. Each Montessori school is governed by the AMS.
The Montessori philosophy is a teaching philosophy that was developed by Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, educator, philosopher and humanitarian. It is child centered rather than teacher centered, and comes at a critical time in the child’s learning and development ranging from birth to adolescence. Each teacher at the school is certified in this teaching method and philosophy.
All classes have mixed ages within a certain range, in which the children will take on different roles. Some buddy up, some become leaders and some older students become role models to younger children but all learn from and about their peers.
Hannah said the school allows children to grow and learn at their own pace, and describes the classroom atmosphere as a “flow of learning.”
Among the school’s subjects are math, language, sensorial, practical life, cooking, geography, art, music, yoga and Spanish classes. Some are set up as stations within a classroom, while others require a trip down the hall to a classroom specifically for that subject.
There is also an emphasis on outdoor education, where learning is done with play and gardening.
Hannah said learning to be self-sufficient, feeling confident and being secure in themselves is something very important that students learn.
“The point is to get them to love learning and establish this early on because its their first educational experience and we want it to be positive,” said Hannah. “We want them to want to come here every day.” She said in October when students decorate pumpkins, if they put eyes at the bottom and slapped mouths in the middle, instructors wouldn’t have told them it was wrong because if the child was happy with it, that’s all that matters.
Some upcoming events at the school include Special Person Day and International Day. Both days are designed to give students the opportunity to learn from and about their peers.
Pennington Montessori School is located at 4 Tree Farm Road in Pennington. For more information call (609) 737-1331 or visit penningtonmontessori.org.
,
