About Indigo
Indigo Montessori School is a privately-owned, non-sectarian Montessori preschool. Indigo offers a strong Montessori curriculum in an enriched, hands-on and child-centered environment that guides each child to explore and expand his or her interests and develop important personal life skills. With a strong emphasis on nurturing relationships, Indigo strives to provide a sense of safety, community and family to its students and parents.
About Montessori
Montessori emphasizes learning through all five senses, not just through listening, watching, or reading. Children in Montessori classes learn at their own individual pace and according to their own choice of activities from a variety of possibilities. Learning is an exciting process of discovery, leading to concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of learning. Montessori classes place children in multi-age groups forming communities in which the older children spontaneously share their knowledge with the younger ones. Montessori represents an entirely different approach to education.
The Four Areas in Montessori
The Practical Life area is the foundation of Montessori philosophy. The purpose is to help the child develop coordination, concentration, a sense of personal independence, and a sense of order. Elements of human conviviality are introduced with the exercises of grace and courtesy. Practical Life exercises instill care for themselves, for others, and for the environment. The activities include many of the tasks children see as part of the daily life in their home like washing dishes, food preparation, and sweeping. The precise movements of the Practical Life materials challenge the child to develop muscular coordination, enabling movement and the exploration of their surroundings. Each child learns to work at his/her own pace, and to complete a cycle of work. This develops capacity for total concentration and typically results in the feelings of satisfaction and confidence.
What Does Montessori Teach?
Self-Confidence: knowledge of their individual strengths and gifts
Independence: personal skills in daily living and in academic pursuits
Grace and Courtesy: an awareness of their responsibility to treat others with kindness
Academic Preparedness: a full range of subjects including cultural studies, geography, biology, geometry, math and language
Early Reading Skills: the building blocks for reading in a sequenced and hands-on method, individually paced
Respect: a strong sense of their right to be treated with respect by others; skills to promote an atmosphere of respect in their world
Community: the security of a supportive, mixed-age community where they feel safe and accepted