Pines Montessori School

The Toddler community is designed around the basic Montessori concept of "freedom within limits.” The environment is prepared with age-appropriate materials and exercises that encourage each child’s natural curiosity and enthusiasm. The equipment in the prepared environment and separate toddler playground areas, as well as the consistency of our routines, have all been carefully designed to foster the development of our youngest students.

The Primary community at Pines Montessori School covers a three-year cycle for children 3, 4, 5-6 years of age. Each class is a multi-age grouping, balanced for gender and developmental stage. That means every student has a chance to be both leader and follower. Dr. Montessori showed that learning results from the interaction of a child’s internal thought and external experience in the world around them. To encourage children to explore this world and organize their knowledge of it, we prepare the classroom environment with activities and material that are appealing and enjoyable but serious in purpose and effect.

Our Elementary community is divided into two multi-aged group levels: Lower (first, second & third) and Upper (fourth, fifth & sixth). The academic program at this level is strong in skill development and broad in character. We believe that basic proficiencies and critical thinking skills are essential. We emphasize the values of independence, cooperation, and self-discipline. Education is more than learning factual information; it is the ability to concentrate, to read and write fluently, to research confidently, to complete projects, and to work productively, both individually and in a group. This format for learning is one that builds knowledge, working with concrete materials which lead to the abstract and critical thinking skills. The Montessori approach along with additional approaches and materials from larger non-Montessori educational community meets individual needs. This combination provides opportunities for enrichment beyond the basic curriculum. Individualized pacing and flexibility in the classroom program meets varied styles of learning.

The Pines Montessori Middle School courses of study reflect an integration of the Montessori philosophy, the Texas elements of knowledge and skills, the newest research on the developmental needs of early adolescents, the state of the art in current learning theory, and the predictions of the skills needed for a productive life in the twenty-first century.