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 Are Leadership Skills Taught in Elementary School?

How Are Leadership Skills Taught in Elementary School - Montessori elementary school -  Flagstaff Montessori Switzer Mesa CampusThe world can always use more leaders, and it can especially use more leaders with compassion and an intrinsic desire to help those who need it most. These are the exact kinds of leaders that we try to inspire at Montessori elementary school, and we do it in a variety of ways. 

Some children may be born with the sensibilities of a leader, but these qualities are something that can be taught, fostered, and encouraged, too. Take a look at how we can help your child develop their inner leader as they make their way through elementary school.

Read more: How Are Leadership Skills Taught in Elementary School?

4 Ways to Handle a Picky Preschool Appetite

4 Ways to Handle a Picky Preschool Appetite - Montessori preschool - Flagstaff Montessori Sunnyside CampusNothing can really prepare a parent for the seemingly arbitrary nature of their preschool child’s appetite. It can seem as if their preferences change with the wind, that the things they are repulsed by aren’t grounded in any discernible logic, and that they’ll only ever eat the things you’d rather them not. 

However, you should know that although no two picky preschool appetites are exactly the same, there are certain ways to approach pickiness in general that can help your child develop beyond their exceedingly particular preferences. At the very least, these tips can help ensure that they get the nourishment they need so you can rest a bit more easily. 

Read more: 4 Ways to Handle a Picky Preschool Appetite

How Does a Montessori Middle School Nurture Intrinsic Motivation?

How Does a Montessori Middle School Nurture Intrinsic Motivation - Montessori middle school - Flagstaff Montessori Cedar CampusA child’s innate curiosity is truly a gift, and it’s one that the Montessori Method holds in the highest regard. 

Intrinsic motivation is closely linked to curiosity and is displayed when a child takes action without being prompted by any type of external stimulus. In other words, the child is not so much rewarded for their actions as they are supported for their efforts as they learn to do things for themselves.

Supporting a child’s innate curiosity and encouraging its development while fueling the drive to explore is one of the main goals of Montessori middle school curricula. While curiosity is nurtured throughout middle school, this encouragement begins even before preschool.

Read more: How Does a Montessori Middle School Nurture Intrinsic Motivation?

Montessori School student wins 2023 Coconino County Spelling Bee

Photo by Rachel Gibbons, Arizona Daily Sun

Calliope Hill of the Montessori School of Flagstaff won Coconino County’s 2023 spelling bee this weekend, correctly spelling the word “trilby” for the victory.  A total of 17 students from schools across the county came to Flagstaff High School’s mini auditorium to compete on Saturday. Each had won their school's spelling bee in order to qualify. The field was down to the top three contestants by the seventh round, with Hill correctly spelling the winning word in the next round.

Please check out the Arizona Daily Sun feature!

Read more: Montessori School studentw ins 2023 Coconino County Spelling Bee

Top 3 Examples of Play-Based Learning in Montessori Preschool

Top 3 Examples of Play-Based Learning in Montessori Preschool - preschool - Flagstaff Montessori Westside CampusPlay-based learning embodies the hands-on approach to learning that distinguishes Montessori learning from much of what transpires with mainstream curriculum. Hands-on learning supports children in exploring their curiosities, passions, senses, and leadership abilities in more ways than one. 

The Montessori Method is founded on the principle that children are naturally intelligent, naturally curious, and naturally capable leaders. When children are exposed to play-based learning, they are encouraged to develop numerous critical life skills by engaging in activities that promote:

Read more: Top 3 Examples of Play-Based Learning in Montessori Preschool

3 Examples of Montessori Elementary School’s Positive Influence on Children

3 Examples of Montessori Elementary School’s Positive Influence on Children - Montessori School of Flagstaff - Switzer Mesa Campus - Elementary school

Elementary school is an important time in your child’s life. Not only will they learn about the world around them and how it works, but they’ll also learn how to interact with others. They’ll start to get an idea of who they are and who they’d like to be. 

For these reasons, it’s important to choose the kind of elementary school that will leave a positive impression on them. 

Montessori’s unique approach offers a positive influence that your child can benefit from in many ways. To learn about some of the benefits of the Montessori method of education, take a look at these three examples.

Read more: 3 Examples of Montessori Elementary School’s Positive Influence on Children

5 Reasons That Montessori Is The Right Environment for Your Preschool Child

5 Reasons That Montessori Is The Right Environment for Your Preschool Child - Montessori School of Flagstaff - Sunnyside Campus - Montessori preschool

If you’ve got a child who’s ready to enter preschool soon, then you’re probably a bit stressed out about finding the right place to send them. Their first experience with school is inevitably going to leave a significant impression and shape their perspective on education going forward. 

A Montessori preschool can help ensure that perspective is a positive one. 

Montessori preschools offer a unique learning experience for children that focuses on things like independence, critical thinking, self-learning, self-esteem, and social connection. Here are five of the best reasons to consider sending your child to a Montessori preschool.

Read more: 5 Reasons That Montessori Is The Right Environment for Your Preschool Child

What Kind of Activities Take Place in a Montessori Kindergarten?

Choosing where to send your child to kindergarten is a big decision that is deserving of careful thought and research. 

In order to know if you’re making the right choice, you should learn everything about the school you choose, from its curriculum to its policies to its teaching philosophies — right down to the activities the teachers have their students do on a daily basis. 

If you were to look into a Montessori kindergarten, you might be surprised to find how different some of our daily activities can be from those in most other kindergartens. 

These activities highlight many of the core beliefs about education that form the foundation of the Montessori approach. Take a look at some of them and see if they fit with your personal parenting philosophies.

Read more: What Kind of Activities Take Place in a Montessori Kindergarten?

4 Critical Reasons for Boosting the Self-Esteem of Middle School Kids

There may not be a more difficult time in childhood than middle school. As your child grows more independent and self-reliant, they’re also beginning to face a lot of challenges, confusion, and social pressure, all of which can be incredibly trying on their young minds. 

Unfortunately, there’s no real way to hide your child from these upheavals without stunting their growth. The trials of the middle school years are essentially a rite of passage. 

However, if you want to send your child to their Montessori middle school as well-equipped as they can be, you can strive to give them one thing: self-esteem. Read on to learn why.

Read more: 4 Critical Reasons for Boosting the Self-Esteem of Middle School Kids

5 Practical Life Experiences That Are Perfect for Elementary School

Children who are enrolled in a Montessori elementary school will take part in age-appropriate practical life activities. These are lessons and experiences that help kids develop essential skills that they will need for a happy, productive future.

When elementary school kids take part in these activities, they don’t just learn a single skill. They also learn to follow complex sets of instructions, develop better motor skills, and practice working independently toward a goal. Many practical life experiences also teach care and awareness of the world around them.

These five life experiences are well-suited for Montessori elementary school students.

Read more: 5 Practical Life Experiences That Are Perfect for Elementary School

Montessori Philosophy

Montessori PhilosophyThe 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.

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Arizona School Tax Credit

Arizona School Tax CreditThe 2015 Arizona School Tax Credit lets your donation go directly to a public school of your choice! A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction of your tax liability. Any Arizona taxpayer may contribute, regardless of whether your child is attending school.

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Enrichment Programs

Montessori Schools of Flagstaff Enrichment ProgramsTo meet the needs of working parents, we offer a before- and after-school program designed for children 18 months–12 years. The older children can sign up for the many special classes offered after school such as drama, art classes, and music lessons.

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