South Land Park Montessori School Inc.is a private, non-denominational school serving students 2 1/2 years of age through the Eighth grade using the Montessori Method. Established in 1979, the school has been expanding each year since. All head teachers are Montessori trained for the age group they are instructing.

• SCHOOL GOALS
• MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY AND CURRICULUM
• SCHOOL DAY
• CURRICULAR GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS
• SPECIAL PROGRAM ASPECTS
• AFFILIATION

The Montessori Method is designed to help develop positive learning attitudes and characteristics in young children. These tendencies, when developed early, should carry on throughout their entire lives.

Our goal is to develop each child's potential. By consistently having the children work at their own level, they will be able to understand and complete what they are capable of doing. As this rate differs for each child, their accomplishments are unlimited and varied.

MONTESSORI METHOD

The Montessori Method is named after its founder, Dr. Maria Montessori (1870 - 1952). After extensive work with children with medical problems, she found that many of these problems were actually educational. She began nursery schools in Rome with her method of educating the "whole child." She then realized that the materials which she had developed might benefit children of all ages, and, in fact, found that the children excelled educationally. Her method involved the use of many materials which are used today in Montessori classrooms all over the world.

MONTESSORI ENVIRONMENT

Montessori Method might be defined as "education by means of liberty in a prepared environment." The "prepared environment" consists of an open and airy classroom with many materials in each area of learning displayed in an ordered fashion. This ordered environment strives to create an ordered life. The child learns to return each "job" to its place before choosing a new project.

The pre-school child has the free choice of jobs within the prepared environment, which creates independence and self-direction. The free choice is limited to each material not already in use by another child. unless the child using a specific material "invites" another child to aid or share in the project. This develops the respect of individuals and their rights.

The elementary child works on a "contract" basis. The child has the responsibility of scheduling his or her time to complete a given amount of work in a given amount of time, yet has the freedom of sequence.

Dr. Montessori found that the childhood years could be divided into definite periods. Each period has its own characteristic attitudes, challenges, and needs.

Pre-School (3-6)

South Land Park Montessori School pre-school classes offer a complete curriculum in practical life, language development, writing, geography, mathematics, computers, French, arts and crafts, music, sensorial, history, biology, and science. Montessori materials are an integral part of this program. The Montessori environment creates a self-motivating atmosphere encouraging a child to progress at his or her own rate.

Lower Elementary (6-9)

During this period the child has changed into a questioning, inquisitive, social person. The elementary child wants to explore and develop his or her relationship with, and understanding of the world. There is a great need during these years to refine the relationships that children have with their peers, and so, for the first time group work and cooperation can be developed.

These years hold a unique and special opportunity in terms of the academic work the child is capable of producing. Children begin to move away from their previous sensorial approach to life and start to conceptualize information. This ability allows the introduction of broad concepts that are also applicable to daily life. They also have the imaginative powers to truly "see" in their mind's eye what grown-ups can only imagine.

These are the years to give children as much information about the world and universe that they can absorb. It is time to give "jobs" that challenge and develop abilities as well as emphasize the finished product and pride that accompanies hard work.

Upper Elementary (9-12)

At this time, children enter the age of great research. They develop a great interest in the how and why of history, geography, and the sciences. Their longer periods of concentration as well as ability to spend more time working on a single topic enable them to begin assimilating information gathered during the 6-9 stage. They are beginning to abstract previous knowledge to form conclusions. Report writing and time line creation integrate advanced areas of math and language while building research skills.

Adolescent (12-15)

During the next period, that of adolescence, children want to become intimately involved in their world. They feel a closeness to human society and a need to be involved in what is happening around them. They want to be directly involved in contributing to society and have that contribution recognized. As part of their contribution to others, our students are responsible for phone answering, message taking, typing of envelopes, and other office skills.

Having learned research skills during the 9 -12 years, the student has now moved to the next levels of Bloom's Taxonomy - those of analysis and evaluation. These are years of great work and independence. The work which they create comes from the well of knowledge built during previous stages, then expanded on during this age.

South Land Park Montessori School offers 5 - day classes in the morning. The day is divided into two hours of selfdirected activity, one half hour of outdoor play, and one half hour of group activity. A 3 - day morning program (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) is also available. As the children in these classes are generally younger and may be experiencing other children for the first time, the learning experience is similar to that of the 5 - day program, with more emphasis on the social activities of groups.

The Extended day class also consists of a similar learning experience to that of the 5 - day program, however, the Montessori day is longer. The children have a half hour of group activity, a half hour of outside time, two hours of self-directed work time, lunch time, a half hour of music experience and an hour of work time in the afternoon.

Snacks are provided daily. Parents are welcome to share special talents and help with special activities. Walking field trips are made to such places as: the post office, pet store, or grocery store. Longer driving trips such as to the Railroad or Indian Museum are made as the year progresses.

The day begins at 8:30 with a flag salute and then circle. In the morning, each child works in the math and language areas of the classroom. Each day. time is also provided for quiet reading. Oral reading and discussions are held periodically using Junior Great Books. The afternoon is devoted to cultural study, with the day ending at 3:00, except during sport terms.

Extended care is available either hourly or on a flat rate from 7:00 to 6:00, as a convenience to parents.

Pre-School

The children are encouraged to become aware of their abilities and gain confidence in themselves. Freedom, concentration, coordination, order, independence, cooperation, self-discipline, industry, and a sense of reality learning are the main goals of the program.

Elementary

Our Elementary program was developed to fill a need in the community for an integrated, structured, individualized, quality Montessori program. This can best be met by focusing on two very definite goals:

To Develop and Refine Skills:

Our program works to develop reading, writing. spelling, math computation, and concept skills to their highest degree. This is accomplished through a highly individualized, ordered sequence of Montessori and supplemental materials.

To Give the Child the Universe:

Through our studies of the cultural subjects (history, geography, botany, zoology, cosmology, geology, and the physical sciences), children are given an understanding of the world and their own responsible places in that world.

Earth's History: Time lines lead from the Big Bang, to the development of life on earth, continuing on to the advent of man and the development of civilizations and societies.

Peoples of the World: Civilizations are studied from ancient to modern societies showing how the environments, cultures and continents have been affected by the way in which people meet their needs.

Plants and Animals: We study the identification and classification of the infinite variety of forms. We explore the living world with special attention to the interrelation of all life, including the Protista, Monera, and Fungi Kingdoms.

Physical Sciences: This area includes the development of the tools of man, their evolution and uses, as well as an introduction to chemistry.

The students are expected to develop a sense of responsibility. This responsibility should extend from their daily work to the needs of others, and the world as a whole. The children are prepared to meet these expectations by developing responsibility toward assigned work and meeting deadlines. This is extended outward to community involvement through such activities as recycling and visiting Convalescent Hospitals.

Mom's and Dad's Nights: These events are held each year to allow the children to show their parents what they do at school. This is held for both the pre-school and 6-9 classes.

Computers: Children have access to one or more of the following: T1 99/4A, Apple 11 series (lie, llc,) and Macintosh computers, including scanners, CD Roms, and the internet.

Foreign Language: French lessons are given to everyone.

Continent Parties: Three continents per year are chosen for special study. Classes select countries, display artifacts and clothing, and prepare regional food.

Field Trips: Monthly, each elementary class gets "out of the classroom." School vans provide transportation for trips ranging from a trip to the local market. to the Steinhart Aquarium in San Francisco, to our annual upper elementary camping trip.

Grades/Testing: An extensive evaluation form is reviewed twice yearly at scheduled parent-teacher conferences. All students are required to take the CTBS once a year Adolescent students are given scores based on individual projects.

Yearly Events: On a yearly rotational basis. there is a special unit of study in preparation for either a science faire, international party, or art and drama program. There is also a craft faire just before the Christmas Holiday for children to earn spending money for gifts.

Cooking: Freeport Boulevard students prepare hot lunches for their own class. The lower classes cook once every other week, while the adolescent class prepares a luncheon weekly.

Sport Term: Three, eight-week sport terms occur each year. During these terms, class is extended on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 4:00 at Riverside BIvd. and until 4:30 at Freeport Blvd.

South Land Park Montessori School has been affiliated with the American Montessori Society (AMS) since 1980.

CAMPUSES: We are fortunate to have three campuses in close proximity to each other.

Pre-School: 5700 South Land Park Dr. (MAP) This campus uses the Social Hall of the Parkside Community Church and is spacious and bright. with a large playground.

Lower Elementary Campus: 6011 Riverside Blvd. (MAP) This campus was one of the first farm houses with the storybook look in the Pocket area. In 1982, it was converted to the school with a very warm and comfortable classroom setting.

Upper Elementary Campus: 6400 Freeport Blvd. (MAP) This campus is more of a traditional school site with many windows opening up to the playground, grape arbor, and bird aviary. yet offers many individual spaces for the child to work.

Main Office: (MAP)

6400 Freeport Boulevard

Sacramento, Calif. 95822

(916) 391-5380

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 22673

Sacramento, Calif. 95822

e-mail Address:

smhslpms@room.net

The environment is such an important and integral part of our learning process. With this in mind, we invite you to observe "the learning environment" as used in our school.