The Montessori Method

Child-centered learning motivates students, making the most of their natural love of curiosity. If you’d like to see the Montessori Method in action, please call us to schedule a tour with our Director of Admissions to see if Country Montessori School is the right place for your child.

Maria Montessori

The Montessori education system originated in 1907 with the Italian physician Dr. Maria Montessori:

Born to a well-respected family, Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was expected to grow up to fulfill the traditional role of the Italian woman. Instead, she pursued an advanced degree at the University of Rome and became the first woman physician to graduate in Italy.
Her interests drew her to work with children, initially those who were disadvantaged and had special needs. Dr. Montessori’s Casa dei Bambini (House of Children) was a radical departure from traditional schools of the time and gained immediate worldwide recognition for the Montessori system.

The Prepared Environment

The “prepared environment” is a crucial principle of Montessori philosophy, referring to the classroom’s physical, instructional, and spiritual aspects, including the teachers and children. Spiritual, in this sense, is a secular reference to peace of mind, enabling the teacher and student to engage in learning in a calm environment and manner. The environment is entirely tailored to children’s needs.

Dr. Maria Montessori’s “follow the child” philosophy is often misinterpreted to mean that children are allowed to do whatever they want in a classroom. In reality, children are allowed freedom within limits to develop to their full potential. They are guided by Montessori-credentialed teachers in a classroom with specific Montessori materials and lessons in language arts, mathematics, practical life, and cultural subjects.

Country Montessori School has been serving the Montessori community since 1989.

Country Montessori School students 2014

Our Mission

As educators and parents, we aim to foster independent, confident, academically prepared, and socially responsible citizens who are lifelong learners and problem solvers. We will grow and evolve to meet the needs of our children, parents, and community.

We believe it is essential to state our values clearly and take action to support them: We educate our students in an environment where everyone feels welcome and included. As a core part of this mission, we stand against racism, hatred, and intolerance. We stand for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Our School

Country Montessori School is dedicated to providing children a Montessori education based on Dr. Montessori’s principles that focus on the development of the whole child; intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual.

Country Montessori School serves children ages 2.6 to 11 years in our Early Childhood (Preschool and Kindergarten), Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary programs. Our Montessori programs provide children with:

A learning environment that is prepared
Child-centered and responsive
Learning activity that is spontaneous, dynamic, and self-directed
Hands on experience with materials
Intrinsic motivation and freedom within limits
Mixed age grouping that focus on cooperation and collaboration in a community setting.

Our campus is situated on nearly 3 acres of trees, with a serenity garden and multiple play areas, Country Montessori School (CMS) offers a warm, homelike environment. The school is located in northwest Poway, just north of San Diego, California.

Governance

Board Of Directors

The Board of Directors is responsible for setting school policies, fiduciary oversight, and promoting the mission of CMS. The Board of Directors comprises parents, community members, teachers, and the Head of School.

Country Montessori School is a 501(c)3 non-profit educational institution that is committed to making a difference in the local and global community by:

Developing life-long learners who are ambitious, problem solvers who care about the world
Providing opportunities for our students, staff, and parents to serve others

Our Staff

Faculty & Staff
We are proud of our teachers and staff longevity, with our ten-year average tenure. Country Montessori School strongly supports staff development and promotion from within.

As a certified Montessori School, our teachers must also be formally trained. We sponsor the majority of our teaching staff to obtain the necessary credentials.

Montessori Teaching Credentials

Teachers receive their Montessori teaching credentials from a Montessori Accredited Center of Teaching Education organization such as AMS (American Montessori Society) or AMI (American Montessori Internationale).

Montessori teachers study a rigorous curriculum of child development and Montessori philosophy. AMS Montessori credentialing requires a 9-month practicum and a series of written and oral exams. A Montessori-credentialed teacher is trained to recognize a child’s readiness according to age, ability, and interest in a specific lesson and is prepared to guide individual progress.

All lead teachers at Country Montessori School are Montessori-credentialed for their teaching programs. Some of our teachers and Classroom Assistants are in training and completing their practicum under the guidance of an experienced teacher. All elementary teachers must have a minimum college education of a Bachelor’s degree.

Our Community

Parent Education

We believe parent participation is vital to the success of the children’s education.

At Country Montessori School, we strive to create a program empowering parents to understand the basics of Montessori philosophy. In true tradition, we work with parents to integrate Montessori practices at home and in parenting.

Country Montessori School provides many opportunities for parent education. Some examples include:

Montessori Journey, an innovative parent workshop simulating a Montessori classroom.
Parent Education Program including guest speakers on topics of child development.
Mother’s Nights and Father’s nights events
Classroom Observation sessions
Our Parent-Teacher Committee (PTC) supports the school through family social events and parent education. Trust and mutual respect are the two most essential factors in the Parent and CMS partnership. Together, staff, parents, and children become a community of learners.
Parent Involvement: In the application form, parents are asked to read the Parent Handbook and sign that they agree to an annual service hours commitment. There are many opportunities to meet individual and family needs.