Learning Through Nature

Innovative Montessori education encourages children to explore their world and to learn to respect and understand the life forms that exist. Children develop creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, concentration, persistence, motivation, imagination, discipline, and other important skills that are needed for their natural development.

Botany activities are child-centered and use live plants, flowers, fruits and seedlings to help them develop an appreciation for nature. Digging in the dirt, weeding, and later being able to enjoy the results of smelling the flowers and eating the fruits and vegetables is a connection to the earth that can last a lifetime.

Zoology develops the child’s fascination with animals and teaches them about their habits and needs. Being able to feed and take care of an animal is very fulfilling to a child and develops the feeling of being able to learn and do any type of task.

Children, if allowed to develop freely, prove that they are connected to everything and are naturally caring about the world around them. It is up to the teachers and programs to help them be all that they can be as they engage in meaningful and also fun activities.  Children work in groups and individually in a hands-on environment to discover and explore knowledge of the world and to develop their maximum potential at a Montessori school such as a Newark preschool.

Montessori methods give children the gift to explore the world around them so that they can learn to further enjoy and improve it in future years for the betterment of the planet’s inhabitants.

Parents of prospective students can feel free to take a scheduled or walk-in tour Monday to Friday.  View the extraordinary classrooms and outdoor play areas at our nearbyNewark preschool. See how each child’s individual interests and strengths are nurtured as they move and learn at their own enthusiastic pace and also learn to interact with other children and in teams. 

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What is an Integrated Curriculum?

One of the hallmarks of the Montessori method is the integrated curriculum. We are all familiar with the approach of traditional education, where school is divided up into compartmentalized "subjects," such as reading, language arts, social studies, science, and math. Even preschool programs are often structured this way.

The Montessori preschool curriculum is different. Instead of compartmentalizing the different areas of learning, the Montessori method integrates them into a single curriculum for a richer learning environment and more memorable lessons.

For example, a Montessori preschool class that studies Africa doesn't just limit the topic to a block of time during the day set aside for social studies. They bring the studies of Africa into all the subjects studied in the classroom. For example, the children will read African stories, sing African songs, play African games, make African-themed art, and learn about African plants, animals, and ecosystems.

Using lesson plans like this one, the Montessori method builds what is called the Spiral of Learning, where each lesson and skill leads into the next. Many different subjects that would be compartmentalized in a traditional learning environment are integrated in a Montessori classroom, allowing children to make connections that strengthen the lessons and fuel their natural desire to learn.


Early education provides the foundation for your child's attitude toward learning for the rest of his or her life. To see firsthand what an integrated preschool curriculum looks like, and to learn more about how it can benefit your child, schedule a tour with our Pleasanton school today.

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How to Maximize a Child's Absorbent Mind

Children’s minds are absorbent like sponges, especially at preschool age and below. Children under age six have an extraordinary capacity for learning. This span in a child’s life is called the absorbent mind period. At around age three, children begin to actively explore, whereas up to that point they learn reflexively. It’s in these years that you are able to lay the foundation of how your child acquires knowledge in the coming years.

Provide your child in preschool with a stable environment, good nutrition and a basic structure, such as set bedtime and meal schedules. These basics help your children know preset boundaries and give them a sense of stability and security. Enrich their environment with music, colors, and essential oils as well as different interactive activities they can explore throughout the day. Talk to your children often and read to them. It’s important to stimulate all of the child’s senses, including touch and smell.

A child in preschool benefits from activities that involve building and assembly. Brightly colored puzzles and building blocks are often a favorite. Coloring books, as well as freestyle drawing, is another activity that can keep a child in preschool engaged for long periods of time.

In our Montessori classrooms, children are encouraged to explore and experience different activities at their own pace with the guidance of professional teaching staff. For more in-depth information on the Montessori teaching method in our Fremont school, please contact us for a guided tour.

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What is a Prepared Environment?

Our preschool in Newark follows the Montessori's idea of a prepared environment. This idea is that everything your child comes in contact with will maximize his or her independent learning and exploration. The environment is setup to be well ordered and calm so your child is free to choose their activity and learn at their own pace.
There are six principles to the prepared environment to ensure the success of your child:

Freedom
It is believed your child must be free to follow his or her own natural impulses. This allows them to develop their potential and increase their knowledge of the world around them. The prepared environment will give your child the freedom to explore and interact socially.

Structure and Order
It may seem structure and order are opposite to the freedom concept; however, this is far from the truth. In the prepared environment of the Montessori school, structure and order reflect the sense of the universe's structure and order. This enables your child to make sense of the world he or she lives in.

Beauty
The environment at the preschool in Fremont follows the Montessori prepared environment concept of presenting beauty. Your child's environment should suggest a simple harmony and be uncluttered and well-maintained. They strive to create an atmosphere that invites your child to come in and work.

Nature and Reality
Montessori schools have a deep respect for nature. They believe nature should be used to inspire your child and will often have your child outside rather than stuck in a classroom. Natural materials are preferred in the prepared environment over those of synthetics or plastic. The environment will also be child sized, as your child should not have to be dependent on an adult to move around. All tools and furniture are fitted to your child's size enabling their independence to explore and learn.
Social Environment
Through the freedom to interact in the prepared environment, your child will learn to have a sense of compassion for those around them. They will learn social interaction through work and play.

Intellectual Environment
The prepared environment of the Montessori school is to develop your child's whole personality, not just their intellect. Your child will be provided the freedom to fully develop his or her unique potential through appropriate and sensorial materials.

Call today and schedule a tour of Montessori School in Newark. We’d love to show you our prepared environment and help you discover if Montessori is right for you and your child.

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Montessori for Children with Autism

If your child has been diagnosed as having autism you may want to consider enrolling them in a Montessori School in your area. There your child can experience the success he or she deserves from the prepared environment and predictable daily routine offered to children with special needs.

Montessori special needs classes are designed around what your child seeks with hands-on learning and continuous stimulation to promote sensory engagement from all of the students. They understand the special care needed to create an environment that will feel friendly to your child. They will provide your child with:

• Softened lights as fluorescent lights can be overwhelming to a child with autism.
• Fabrics and other materials that do not cause them to become uncomfortable as children with autism can be highly sensitive to touching items.
• Scheduled activities/routines and make sure your child is aware of how the day will proceed. Children with autism do not like change or surprises that stray from their routine. 

Montessori staff will make sure your child is fully aware and ready for any special situations. Special needs classes are designed for your child to learn and practice appropriate social interactions. Your child will benefit from the opportunity he or she will have to observe how others interact around them. They will learn how to make eye contact during conversations and how to engage in conversation with others. They will be given the freedom of watching other children use materials before they are asked to participate.

The Montessori curriculum will allow your child to feel safe. They will be part of a secure environment that will allow him or her to learn and grow at their own pace. Research shows early intervention makes a dramatic impact and reduces the symptoms of autism. At the Montessori schools teachers use unique strategies to serve children with learning, behavioral and physical differences.

The roots of the Montessori education come from observing and educating handicapped children. They are will ensure your child benefits from their educational philosophy and carefully structured environment. They will empower disabled children to care for themselves and learn sufficient skills to succeed in social interactions.

Your child will grow and succeed within the Montessori special needs classes. Don't wait. Schedule a tour today of our Fremont, CA school and see for yourself all we can offer you and your child.

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