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Maplewood is located at:
205 Woodford Street
Portland, Maine
207-772-2833
info@maplewoodmontessori.com

Last Updated: 09/10/2008
©1999 - 2008, Maplewood Montessori School

As a community of parents, teachers, and children; we at Maplewood Montessori School believe that the child from three to six years of age is an avid learner; that he/she learns largely through imitation, and in a concrete fashion through the manipulation of real objects. We recognize that the young child has unique capabilities for absorbing information and culture, unparalleled by any other time in his/her life, and that the mind has a remarkable ability to sort and order this information. We utilize the sensitive periods of development described by Dr. Maria Montessori as guidelines in planning our curriculum; these include sensitive periods for the absorption of language, attention to order and detail, movement and refining sensorial perceptions. In addition, we agree that character development at this age is best taught through simple grace and courtesy lessons as children widen their social circle and become active participants in a community beyond family.

We seek to offer children a non-competitive, joyful and healthy learning atmosphere, which is well ordered and sequentially structured according to skill level, and where human relations and social skills are exemplified in such a way that they can be imitated. In the Montessori tradition, we provide children with a rich environment reflecting interest in all areas of life.  The classroom is a child-sized world equipped with materials suited specifically to foster the development of three to six year olds and covers the following curriculum areas:

Practical Life Curriculum - Here exercises are real life tasks such as food preparation, dusting, sweeping, pouring, measuring, buttoning, zipping, and stringing that foster the development of concentration, coordination, independence, and order.

Sensorial Curriculum - Sensorial materials enable the children to develop their senses and refine their perceptions.

Language Curriculum - Language lessons provide for vocabulary development, writing skills, and pre-reading and reading skills.

Math Curriculum - Math Materials allow the child to explore mathematical concepts in a concrete manner, appropriate to his/her own development and interest.

Cultural Studies - Geography, history, social studies, science, music and art are presented in short concrete lessons that allow the children to explore and connect with the world around them.

In addition to these traditional areas of the Primary Montessori classroom, we also provide the children with opportunities for creative play and outdoor activities.

It is important to note that the teachers at Maplewood work to strike a balance between the freedom of the children to make their own work choices and the direction of the teacher to introduce lessons and materials at appropriate times.  Our program is one that respects and stresses freedom of choice. We firmly believe that the curiosity and individuality of each child must be encouraged and protected. 

In addition to setting academic goals for children and supporting the development of learning skills, we strive to encourage the development of a strong sense of self and social responsibility.  Following their own inner quest for learning and given the opportunity for concrete learning experiences, the children develop a joyful fascination and love for learning.  They learn to care for others and to work comfortably within a group, to take responsibility for their own work, to use their senses accurately, to be self-motivated and to enjoy the process, not just work toward an end. We recognize these skills as pre-requisites to a successful and healthy academic life.

Each child is considered to be a unique and beautiful individual with his/her own special talents and interests. We believe that each child has his/her own natural timetable of development. Individual differences are supported and encouraged; each child’s path through the classroom and experience at Maplewood will accordingly be different.  The mixed age setting allows children to work at their own pace without feeling pressure to perform and affords children the opportunity to learn family and real world skills, by working with children both older and younger than themselves.

Our program is intended to be a three to four year program for each child.  Parents considering a Montessori education for their child(ren) should be committed to the philosophy and continue enrollment through the kindergarten year.  Ideally, children enter a Primary classroom between two and a half and three years of age; and leave as they demonstrate a readiness to transition from the concrete to the more abstract, and have less need for frequent movement.  This developmental change generally takes place between the ages of six and seven at which time the children transition into (often more traditional) classroom settings at the first grade level.

In addition, the three to four year program enables each child to form significant relationships with adults other than family members at a time when he/she is naturally inclined toward social interaction.  It is our hope that the teachers will become figures offering support and enrichment to each family’s life.

Morning sessions run from 8:30 to 11:30, and are available Monday through Friday; parents may choose to enroll children for three, four, or five mornings a week.  Maplewood’s extended day program is intended for children who have had a year of experience in the classroom, this option extends the day until 2:30, and is available Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.