The Montessori community is noticeably different from classrooms in conventional schools. Children in a Montessori community learn to make choices about their school work. Choosing challenging work or activities from a variety of areas is an important life lesson. Each room is filled with permanent materials arranged in sequence from the simple to the complex. The materials are attractive to a child and invite exploration; each is designed to be self-correcting while teaching the child mastery of a single concept. Materials at the elementary level reflect the more abstract concepts and advanced requirements expected of more mature students.
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. The curriculum and instruction is designed as a two-year program. The language arts, speech, foreign language, health and fitness, outdoor education, and fine arts are courses of continuous progress. The humanities, physical science, biology, geography, health, and math are studied by topics or concepts. The Middle School academic year starts with an orientation session followed by 4 quarters which include 6-7 academic weeks and a journey week for off campus experiences, land laboratory, and trips. Our program has elements of group and individual work. Throughout the quarter students work together to expand their knowledge and teach their discoveries to the class. The quarter format is designed to help students learn organizational, decision-making, and time-management skills.
"An education capable of saving humanity is no small undertaking; it involves the spiritual development of man, the enhancement of his value as an individual, and the preparation of young people to understand the times in which they live.” - Maria Montessori
