About Our School
Greeley lost its only Montessori school in the Spring of 2011 leaving a need for a new Montessori school. I had opened a small Montessori home in the little farming town of Dows, Iowa for my youngest son because I believe in the philosophy so very much. We moved out to Colorado in 2006 and I became a licensed Realtor. This was right at the beginning of not a great time to be a Realtor so when the opportunity arose in Greeley; I went back to my true passion of teaching. Our school is licensed for 10 Toddlers and 50 preschool/kindergartner age children We are growing and anticipate a waiting list this fall. Our growth and the referrals from current parents tell us we are on the right path. We have parents that drive from Brighton, Windsor and Loveland to our school. I love our small center and the fact that it makes it easier to really get to know the parents and the children. We are active in community events and look forward to our continued growth in the area.
Montessori Academy of Northern Colorado has a comprehensive educational approach for 12 mo. (and walking) through Kindergarten. It is based on the observation of children’s needs in a variety of cultures all around the world. Beginning her work almost a century ago, Dr. Maria Montessori developed this educational approach based on her understanding of children’s natural learning tendencies as they unfold in “prepared environments” for multi-age groups in three year spans; (0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, and 12-14). The Montessori environment contains specially designed, manipulative “materials for development” that invite children to engage in learning activities of their own individual choice. Under the guidance of a trained teacher, children in a Montessori classroom learn by making discoveries with the materials, cultivating concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of learning.
Montessori – A Brief History
Known throughout the world, the Montessori method of education is based on the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori, the first woman physician in Italy during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Specializing in pediatrics and psychiatry, Maria Montessori had regular contact with working class and poor children through free clinics at the University of Rome’s medical school. These experiences convinced Dr. Montessori that children are born with incredible learning potential and an intrinsic desire to explore, discover, and learn about their world.
Through scientific investigation, study of available research and observation of children with developmental disabilities, as well as with poor children of normal intelligence, Dr. Montessori saw that children flourish in an environment that supports the individual child’s social, emotional, intellectual, and moral development. Through observations of children and through trial and error, Dr. Montessori developed an educational method that is designed to help each child reach his or her full potential in all areas of life. The prepared environment allows for self-directed learning and relies on multi-sensory, sequential, and self-correcting materials. The teacher functions as a resource, role-model, demonstrator, record-keeper, and meticulous observer of each child’s behavior and growth.
Dr. Montessori’s Children Houses received numerous visitors who came away in awe of how the children took responsibility for their environment and pursued intellectual concepts that were typically introduced much later in schooling. As Montessori duplicated her schools throughout Europe, she also began introducing her method to the United States with the support of the Washington Montessori Society whose members included Alexander Graham Bell and Woodrow Wilson’s daughter.
