Growing independence
while fostering connection.
We care for children from ages 18 months to 6 years old at our thoughtfully designed school in the heart of Denton, Texas.
What is Montessori?
Montessori is child-focused approach that an Italian Physician and Educator, Dr. Maria Montessori, developed for educating children. This method has been transformational in schools around the globe and here in Denton, Texas.
The Montesorri method fosters rigorous, self-motivated growth in all areas of development –cognitive, social, emotional, and physical. Children are given freedom and support to explore, investigate, and make connections.
Montessori education is student-led and self-paced but guided, observed, and enriched by knowledgeable and caring teachers, the modeling of their peers, and a nurturing well-prepared environment.
Why Little Dove Montessori?
Little Dove’s Montessori education supports the individual needs of each child and empowers them to achieve their human potential. Children work independently or in small groups, exploring specially designed learning materials, deeply engaged in their work, and respectful of each other and their surroundings.
Student grow up to be more confident, enthusiastic, and self-directed learners and citizens, accountable to both themselves and their community. They think critically, work collaboratively, and act boldly and with integrity.
Observation
Our teachers are trained to observe the children daily, assess their interested and needs, and adjust the curriculum and materials accordingly. Observation is the cornerstone of the Montessori pedagogy. Objective observation is what allows us to follow the child.
Prepared Environment
We prepare an environment filled with hands-on, self-corrective materials that promote auto-education, which enables children to teach themselves.
A hallmark of Montessori education is the hands-on approach to learning and the use of specially designed learning materials. Beautifully and precisely crafted, Montessori’s logical, developmentally appropriate progression allows the child to develop an abstracted understanding of a concept.
– American Montessori Society
Freedom within Limits
In Montessori classrooms, an extended period of “free choice” time called the “uninterrupted work period” recognizes and respects individual variations in the learning process. During the work period, students have time to select and work through various tasks and responsibilities.
A child’s work cycle involves selecting an activity, performing the activity for as long as they are interested in it, cleaning up the activity and returning it to the shelf, then selecting another activity. During the work period, teachers support and monitor the students’ work and provide individual and small-group lessons. The uninterrupted work period facilitates the development of coordination, concentration, and independence, allowing the children freedom within limits.
– American Montessori Society
