“The goal of early childhood education should be to activate the child’s own natural desire to learn”
– Maria Montessori.
A Montessori school like Escuela del Sol might be described as an unconventional school, an alternative school, a hands-on school, a self-paced school, or even an exploration-based school. According to the American Montessori Society, “Montessori is an innovative, child-centered approach to education, developed a century ago by a woman ahead of her time.” Let’s look at some of the many reasons to choose a Montessori education at Escuela del Sol.
Authentic Montessori education values children as unique individuals. At Escuela, we help them develop in ways that encourage, nurture, and maximize intrinsic motivation and self-direction. The classroom environment is intentionally designed to be a stimulating environment, and the lessons children engage with are guided by skilled teachers who work with your child over a 3-year social and academic developmental cycle. Montessori aims to invigorate and capitalize on the child’s natural desire for understanding, knowledge, respect and agency.
The Montessori method, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, has been around for well over a century and is backed by extensive research, and Escuela del Sol Montessori School has been educating Albuquerque’s children for over 50 years. Cornerstone values of Montessori include maximizing each child’s potential, nurturing confidence, developing interpersonal skills, and helping children acquire tools to be successful, contributing members of a global society.
Early Childhood, or the foundational years of education, is a uniquely significant period in a person’s life. Language acquisition, fine and gross motor skills, cultivation of attention and concentration, and the beginnings of executive functioning are all part of the growth that occurs from birth through 6 years old. Young children are beginning to understand the world around them, and parents recognize the need to find skilled, dedicated guides to support them through this critical phase of development. From Early Childhood through Jr. High, Escuela del Sol Montessori students are active participants in their education, growing into self-aware, self-directed, joyful learners. This has a profound impact on their educational journey into high school and beyond.
Around age 6, children experience physical and psychological changes. Their sphere of awareness expands, and social dynamics shift and take on new importance. Independence and learning explode. Elementary children, ages 6 to 12, have tremendous intellectual capacity, a powerful imagination, a strong sense of justice, and an unquenchable desire to ask questions and seek information. Core components of Montessori education – and Escuela culture – like care of self, care of others, and care for the environment become more sophisticated and expand beyond our school community. Our students grow into accountable, capable, and knowledgeable people who have an awareness and ability to communicate their ideas, needs, and sense of place in their community.
Adolescence begins around age 12, and new profound developmental transformations occur as students leave childhood. At Escuela, we continue to help our students explore their unique opportunities and responsibilities as they enter Jr. High. These are formative years in which children explore big questions of identity and purpose. Adolescents are driven by the key questions: “Who am I?” “Where do I fit in?” “How can/will I contribute?” These questions are more important than ever as our young people come of age during such a tumultuous and ever-changing time. These years hold immense potential as well as fragility. Being a leader in their community at this critical time helps each student build the confidence to trust their voice and grants them time to form the foundation of the young adult they are becoming. The benefits of continuing self-exploration and academic challenge in a supportive environment with teachers and a community who know and understand each student’s challenges, strengths and potential are, as they say, priceless.
Here are key reasons to choose Escuela Del Sol Montessori:
