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“If we try to think back to the dim and distant past… what is it that helps us reconstruct those times, and to picture the lives of those who lived in them? it is their art… It is thanks to the hand, the companion of the mind, that civilization has arisen.” All Day Montessori Enrichment Studios
Dr. Maria Montessori
A lot of forethought went into creating a program that would meet the needs of young children and their full-time working parents. All Day Montessori Enrichment Studio
In the bay area where the majority of families have two full-time working parents, many children are at school for up to 9 hours per day.
There are many Montessori schools and traditional preschools in the area that offer a before-school program and an after-school program. These programs are typically held in another classroom that is filled with what we consider traditional children’s toys.
Children are usually dropped off before school, where they play for anywhere from one to two hours, then they move into their classroom for the day. After the educational program is over (usually around 3:00 or so), the children are shuttled back into the room filled with toys. An afternoon snack and playground time is also a typical part of the after-school schedule.
This begs several questions:
What does an All-Day Montessori program exactly mean? Why does an All Day Montessori program matter? Won’t these children be exhausted by the end of the day? Do they ever get to play?
Full-Day program will begin at 7:00 a.m. All Day Montessori Enrichment Studios
What goes on in the morning before most of the children arrive into the classroom:
Our experience is that children are deeply connected to these sorts of activities, and by providing these opportunities, the children are more connected with their environment and their classmates. This makes the classroom feel more like a second home and creating a strong social cohesion among them.
The morning work period begins which includes preparing for lunch as well as:
Children in a fully implemented Montessori environment will always have the opportunity to choose what they would like to do. This includes (but is not limited to) observing other children, walking around the classroom, chatting with friends, or sitting in the library area quietly and looking at a book.
By no means will children be “studying” their math facts or writing and reading all day long with no breaks. Without many “transitions”, children are able to settle into the day and make meaningful choices.
Assistant teachers who work along-side the Montessori guides, lead the studios at the Montessori School of Silicon Valley. Since the Assistant staff work in the classroom all day, they know the children well and by leading the studios they allow for the lead guides to have time to do things like prepare the classroom, record lessons and observations, meet with parents & other staff, etc.
The studio comes to the classroom which provides the children with the opportunity to choose to participate in the studio or continue with traditional Montessori work.
We currently offer daily Art, Gardening and Cooking studios are in 12-week sessions from 4 pm to 6 pm.
Children in the afternoon program can choose the studio program, Montessori curriculum, independent art, cultural and other practical life activities in the classroom.
The Enrichment Studios are designed to be “process centered”. At the end of each 12-week session, each site holds “Studio Openings” providing anopportunity for the children to show off their work to their parents!