Montessori Happenings

Welcome to the Montessori School of Flagstaff School Blog. To filter by campus, use the links on the sidebar (desktop) or below (mobile). Want to check out a campus? Contact us to schedule a school tour.

How Does Montessori Build Great Leaders?

Details: Published: Tuesday, 10 May 2022 18:00

Think of someone in a leadership role that inspires and impresses you. Maybe a benevolent president, a motivating activist, or an inventive entrepreneur came to mind. While some are born leaders, like Martin Luther King Jr. or Stephen Hawking, it is not a talent you must possess from birth. Leadership is a skill that can be taught and developed.

Growing leaders is a primary focus of the Montessori method. The aim of producing individuals who can lead confidently and justly is not about creating the next famous inventor or a business owner. The true goal is to help you as a parent to raise people who demonstrate characteristics that bring a positive influence into their world.

In Montessori schools, for classes of all ages, leadership skills are a built-in part of complex lessons that assist in cultivating leadership qualities in students. Some well-known Montessori alumni include Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, NBA Champion Stephen Curry, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

While there are many definitions of what makes for a great leader, the Montessori method nurtures numerous leadership qualities that work toward the ultimate goal of the Montessori philosophy, educating the whole child.

Here are a handful of aspects of the Montessori method that inspires leadership qualities within our students:

What is a Prepared Preschool Environment?

Details: Published: Friday, 06 May 2022 18:00

Dr. Maria Montessori studied the extraordinary way young learners acquire knowledge and the notions of their evolving minds. Montessori, realizing the shapeable nature of children's minds, suggested that instructors prepare a tailored environment. Then, placing the child within it, she found it gave them the freedom to live in it, absorbing what they discover there. These well-maintained classrooms, or the prepared environments, became a staple in the Montessori method.

The vision of the prepared environment has an elevated focus on order, directly relating to the remarkable way in which young children inherently understand and retain knowledge. The impact of the prepared environment in the Montessori preschool classroom allows young learners to build the base of a life-long love of learning and take pride in their findings. The ambition of the prepared environment is to render the growing child independent of their parents and other adults. It is a place where preschoolers can do things for themselves without direct help from adults. In doing so, the preschooler becomes conscious of their power.

So, what is a prepared environment exactly? A prepared environment is a classroom atmosphere that emphasizes:

7 Qualities to Look For In an Authentic Montessori School

Details: Published: Monday, 04 April 2022 18:00

When deciding where to send your child for preschool, it is necessary to choose a program that best fits your child as an individual learner. The best programs will see your child as an individual, nurture their interests, and encourage their unique growth.

The Montessori Philosophy encourages children to develop their observation skills through activities that use the five senses, kinetic movement, spatial refinement, small and gross motor skill coordination, and concrete knowledge that leads to later abstraction.

At The Young Children’s Community, we encourage Montessori education at an early stage in the child’s development. Our nurturing setting is perfect for establishing a foundation that unlocks your child's mind to the world around them.

The authenticity of the preschool program you are enrolling your child in is important, too. How can you know with certainty that the Montessori programs you are considering are implementing the Montessori Method? Read on to find out how to spot an authentic Montessori program that aligns with your child's growth and aspirations.

7 Ways to Reinforce the Montessori Method at Home

Details: Published: Friday, 25 March 2022 16:40

In regards to your child’s education, it is essential that the lessons absorbed in the classroom are continued outside of the school environment. Children are naturally eager for knowledge and want to discover and develop their interests and talents in a way that feels true for them. A Montessori school can provide your preschool student with the tools to access their highest learning potential, but it is important that these tools are used at home as well.

There are a number of simple ways to support the Montessori Method at home, keeping your student engaged in their learning and allowing you to join on that journey alongside them. Here are 7 ways you can reinforce the Montessori philosophy in your home.

Psychology Today: Montessori Children Often Turn Into Happy Adults

Details: Published: Monday, 10 January 2022 20:21

According to an article in Psychology Today, a recent study has found many long-term psychological benefits in adults linked to Montessori education as a child: "A new paper published in Frontiers in Psychology provides more evidence that a Montessori education may be superior to traditional methods of education, especially on measures relating to students’ long-term psychological health and well-being."

"...people who had spent at least two years in Montessori had higher well-being than people who never went to Montessori... We also found that the longer one had attended a Montessori school, the higher their level of well-being.”

Read the entire Psychology Today article here.

While we have always prided ourselves on serving the whole child, intellectually, physically, emotionally, and socially here at MSF; we know that supporting social-emotional development is especially important during these unpredictable times.

Robotics Club Success!

Details: Published: Monday, 10 January 2022 19:58

Montessorians

Congratulations to the students and staff who have put hard work and dedication into our Robotics Club this year. In December, both teams, The Gear Guards and The Montessorians, competed in the Flagstaff FIRST LEGO League qualifier regional competition.

COVID-19 Fundraiser

Details: Published: Monday, 24 August 2020 15:51

Donation pledge form

As all of our Montessori families know, our teachers have been working hard to prepare the best distance learning option we can during the COVID19 pandemic. The Montessori philosophy traditionally places less emphasis on technology and more on hands-on work, in-person collaboration, and dynamic problem-solving; however in this current age, we’ve all been forced to be flexible and learn new ways of doing things. This includes how we engage our community of families and how we provide opportunities to support the school. Unfortunately, this year we will be unable to host our Annual Fall Carnival Fundraiser. In the past, this fundraiser provided the additional resources needed to offer students an exemplary Montessori education. In addition to cancelling our major fundraising source, we also have a new host of needs stemming from the pandemic. As a result and in response to the enthusiasm and support we felt from parents at the Town Hall meeting last month, we humbly announce the Montessori School of Flagstaff COVID Fundraising campaign.

2020-2021 Distance Learning Plan

Details: Published: Thursday, 20 August 2020 16:36

As a public charter school, Montessori School of Flagstaff is required to submit a Distance Learning Plan to the Arizona Department of Education, detailing our instruction and services available to our students.

Per Governor Ducey's Executive Order, Montessori School of Flagstaff is providing on-site support services for our K-8 charter students during school hours at our Switzer Mesa campus. This option is available for students whose circumstances require educational options beyond those provided by our Distance Learning program. We emailed parents regarding the details of these services before our August 17 start date. If you would like more information, please contact the Switzer Mesa campus.

2020-2021 School Year Updates

Details: Published: Friday, 07 August 2020 16:56

Hello Montessori School of Flagstaff families!

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently offering distance learning beginning August 17. Please continue to check your email for updates from teachers and administration regarding the details of the distance learning plan.

Thank you for your flexibility, understanding and support as we navigate this together!

Bugs Bugs Bugs!

Details: Published: Thursday, 16 May 2019 20:40

Students from Lower Elementary got up close and personal with our six-legged friends this week. We feel so fortunate to have parents with such varying areas of expertise! The students enjoyed learning new facts about their insect friends, as well as getting to view and even touch many species of insects. Another great presentation from our parent community!