Montessori Philosophy

The Montessori Method is a teaching methodology developed in Italy by Dr. Maria Montessori.  Her first school opened in Rome in 1907 and followed quickly by world wide acceptance of her educational approach as well her precise educational materials tailored for children’s developmental needs. 

The Montessori approach is based upon the natural laws of human development.  Maria Montessori observed that the children under six absorb limitlessly and effortlessly from the world around them with a special kind of mind she called an absorbent mind.  This gives the child a strong desire to explore everything around them using their senses and a drive to become independent.

Foothill Montessori School:

At our school you will find authentic Montessori principles in practice.  From the moment the child enters our classrooms all focus is on the needs of the child.  Each step in the child’s education is seen as a progressive building block. 

Pre-K (2-5 years)

We offer classrooms that are carefully created and painstakingly prepared environments where every element of the curriculum, the materials, and the classrooms are designed to engage the young learner: the materials are child sized and the equipment is laid out in an orderly fashion on low shelves that are accessible for children. This allows the child to become independent.  Our equipment is aesthetically pleasing and is meticulously cared for which encourages the children to take care of it too.

We practice the “triad” of child, environment, and the teacher, where each part of the triad is as important as the other.  Our belief is that each child possesses many gifts and is not merely an empty vessel to be filled in by the teacher.  This approach demands confident and skilled professional like our fully certified teachers who allow the child to be an active participant in her or his learning.

The curriculum at Foothill Montessori is divided into four main areas.  Practical life area not only gives the child the opportunity to practice life skills but also helps them develop concentration and coordination of mind and body.  The sensorial materials capitalize on the fact that the children use their senses to learn.  Through these materials they learn to order and classify the physical properties of the world.  The materials for mathematics for example help children learn and understand the concepts by using concrete materials.  Children are prepared to write and read from the very beginning through a series of activities that gradually build all the individual skills required.

Kindergartners & Elementary Level:

In keeping with the Montessori philosophy, children of different age levels are mixed in the same classroom. While the work done in the Pre-K level is more on an individual basis, as the child gets older, he begins to work in a group. The “work cycle period” gets longer and work becomes more visible to the adults.   

As children begin to work in small groups, their progression continues to be determined by each individual child’s development. Additionally, at this level, we incorporate the TUSD curriculum with the Montessori curriculum.

DAILY CURRICULUM (Pre-K & Kindergarteners) :

Time                     Activity
 7:00 AM               School opens (Extended care.)
 8:45 AM               Montessori Curriculum commences.
11:00 - 1:30 PM    Outdoor play, lunch and group Activity.
                              (The order of activities may vary for each class. Half-day and younger children eat early)  
1:00 PM                Nap time and/or Rest time.
1:30 PM                Montessori  "work" recommences.
                               (Only those who do not want to nap.)
 2:45 PM               End of nap time & Montessori Curriculum.
 3:00 PM               Pick-up time. ( 8:30-3:00PM service schedule ends.)
 3:10 PM               Snack Time.
 3:45 PM               Outdoor play.
 4:30 PM               Extended care (Free play)
 6:00 PM               School closes.

Remarks:
1. Please note that the above curriculum is only a guide with activities revised as needed.  Extra curricular activities like dancing, piano and computer classes are offered on an individual basis and that child's schedule is adjusted accordingly.  

2.  A brand new elementary program began in September 2009.  Currently, both Kindergarteners and Grade I  comprise our elementary classroom. Additional grades will be added in the new academic year. 

3.  The school operates year-around (see school calendar for holidays). We try and ovelap our school calendar with that of Tustin Unified School District (TUSD) for the convenience of our clients. 

4.  Teacher-child ratio is approximately 10:1 when the school is full.