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THE UNIQUENESS OF SCHOOL OF THE WOODS
School of the Woods develops life-long learners. Children experience
success as they flourish in surroundings of respect and concern. The staff
of certified Montessori teachers respects each child's uniqueness and plans
the progress of each student in accordance with the needs, interest and
abilities of the student. Individual readiness determines the introduction
of new materials, and the teacher serves as a resource, guide and helper
as he/she sensitively interacts in the child's adventure toward life-long
learning.
School of the Woods, an American Montessori Society affiliate, integrates
contemporary materials and methods with Montessori education in the classroom
environment. A rich variety of "hands on" activities in the early
childhood years enhances the growth of each child. The elementary, upper
elementary, middle and high school classes extend experiences at each successive
level and offer truly unique programs of interdisciplinary learning and
real-life applications.  .
THE MONTESSORI EXPERIENCE
Dr. Maria Montessori designed this educational system to express her
philosophy of child development. Modern research strongly supports her
theory that children learn through their interactions with the objects
and people in their environment. The choice of classroom materials and
cooperative activities reflect this learning concept. Experiences of the
student are, therefore, developmentally appropriate and form the foundation
for critical thinking skills and for understanding abstract ideas.
THE ADVANTAGES OF CROSS-AGE LEARNING
Cooperative experiences in cross-age groupings are a natural part of
the Montessori classroom environment. Dr. Montessori's belief that a mixed
age group enhances the child's learning experience finds increasing support
in current research. Studies show that younger children in the group gain
through their observations of and interactions with the older child's advanced
skills. Additionally, the older children restructure and solidify their
acquired understanding as they participate with the younger ones.
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