The adolescent must never be treated as a child, for that is a stage of life that he has surpassed. It is better to treat an adolescent as if he had greater value than he actually shows than as if he had less and let him feel that his merits and self-respect are disregarded.
Maria Montessori
The adolescent must never be treated as a child, for that is a stage of life that he has surpassed. It is better to treat an adolescent as if he had greater value than he actually shows than as if he had less and let him feel that his merits and self-respect are disregarded.Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori built her vision and philosophy of education on the theory that human development from birth until maturity at age 24 encompasses four planes of development. Between the ages of 12 and 18, according to Dr. Montessori, children are in the plane of adolescence. It is during this third plane that children are working on the construction of their social selves. They are separating from their parents, mentally and physically, and need to be shown that they can participate in and have some control over their lives. If all has gone well during the second plane, the developing teenager should have a strong moral conscience to rely on when tough choices present themselves.
Our Montessori Middle School program supports students as they begin the transition from childhood to adulthood. Students are introduced to new information and new ways to process that information. Direct experiences, including field trips and simulations are an important part of the curriculum. Student work is graded in all subject areas.
Students read for information in science, history, literature and math. Textbooks, other print media, and online resources are used along with direct instruction, discussion, and research. Writing instruction focuses on writing for different audiences, for different purposes, and using different media. Math instruction includes pre-Algebra, Algebra I, and, for those who are ready, Geometry.
Based on a two-year continuum, the Middle School program is designed to prepare students for the demands of public and private high schools. The Middle School curriculum uses an interdisciplinary approach that promotes inquiry-based learning opportunities. Students refine their critical thinking skills and engage in opportunities to hone problem solving skills through both creative thinking and deductive reasoning.
The school day is from 8:30 – 3:00.
Bus transportation is provided by the school district of residence for Pennsylvania students whose home school district is within 10 miles of Montessori Academy.