When children pass through the doors of Foundations Christian Montessori Academy, they enter a model, kid-sized community, one that is both run by and focused upon themselves. In a Montessori program the class is not centered around the teacher, instead the children learn from, and in turn teach, other children. In the place of the classroom, we have a “Children’s House” or home that encompasses a three-year age range, 18 months to 3 years and 3 to 6 six years old. The Children learn side-by-side, enabling excitement and interest as the younger students are gradually exposed to more advanced concepts. Teachers develop and maintain longer relationships with children, guiding the student’s progress in the most continuous and productive manner.
In this period of intense social emotional growth, hands-on activities foster genuine interest in the learning process, instilling both curiosity of the child’s enviroment and the ability to concentrate and focus for extended lengths of time. The Montessori method and curriculum cultivate personality traits that are essential for intellectual development such as self-esteem, self-control, and self-confidence. The goal of Montessori programs is not rote recall of a set of facts but to the creation of curious, respectful, knowledge-and-growth seeking individuals. When students reach this stage and embody these qualities it reinforces their positive self image and healthy interaction with the world around them, invalidating the need for disciplinary measures.
Foundations Christian Montessori Academy is the FIRST Montessori academy serving the Lakewood Ranch community and is centrally located to also serve the families of Manatee and Sarasota counties.