Curriculum Design

The Montessori curriculum is organized as an interconnected world of systems rather than as separate categories of knowledge. Lessons are introduced simply and concretely in the early years and then reintroduced many times in successive years at increasing degrees of abstraction and complexity. We strive to cultivate a healthy and joyful attitude toward learning as a lifetime endeavor.

There is an early emphasis on the comprehensive vision of knowledge as a whole before proceeding to its parts as points of reference. (Math concepts are introduced before math facts are memorized; the earth's globe is studied before countries are named.) Montessori delights in celebrating the uniqueness of each child and the wholeness of his personality: his emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual self.

Instead of segregating children by age, Montessori organizes the learning experience so that groups within a wider age span form around shared interests and abilities. At Nightingale Montessori we offer the following learning programs:

"HUMMINGBIRDS"
(Toddlers:18 months to 3 years)
"OWLS"
(Middle school: 9 to 12 years)
"CHICKADEES"
(Pre-school and Kindergarten: 3 to 6 years)
"FALCONS"
(Junior High School: 12 to 14+ years)