Critical Aspects of the Montessori Cycle
Reading: Comprehension and Fluency
Our reading program emphasizes both comprehension and fluency, helping students engage with texts and develop decoding skills. Through personalized reading folders, children track progress in paths tailored to their development, focusing on letter identification and blending sounds to strengthen their reading abilities.
Reading activities in the Montessori classroom weave comprehension skills into the learning process from the very start. This early emphasis on fluency and comprehension fosters the development of well-rounded, effective readers.
Math: Hands-On Exploration
In math, we use interactive tools like the golden beads and the bank game to encourage a deep understanding of mathematical concepts, including the decimal system. These hands-on activities move beyond memorization, fostering a love for learning through visual and tactile experiences.
Our students are unaware of the exciting groundwork they’re laying to more effectively build deeper, more complex foundations in increasingly difficult concepts. It’s not about memorizing problem-answers like in traditional schools. We teach to understand the size of the numbers, the function of the problem, and solving for the answer each time. Rote memorization comes naturally as a side effect to this journey.
Science: Inquiry and Exploration
Our science curriculum encourages curiosity and critical thinking through hands-on experiments. Daily, our students learn with real-time observations of plants in our garden and trails, or the various animals and species around campus. They develop a natural excitement in exploring the natural world around them, asking questions, and discovering answers, building the foundation for problem-solving and scientific inquiry.’
Holistic Learning
Our curriculum supports the whole child, focusing not only on intellectual growth but also on emotional, social, and physical development. By integrating subjects and fostering critical thinking, creativity, and resilience, we prepare students for success in school and life.
At School in the Hills, we aim to create a love for learning that extends far beyond memorization. Memorization is ultimately a byproduct of deeper learning and understanding of academic concepts. Our holistic, hands-on approach builds skills that last a lifetime, preparing children for future academic challenges and personal growth.
Explore! Create! Discover!
School in the Hills offers full day camps for primary through upper elementary ages. Our toddler program continues through summer for year round students only.
