South Walton Montessori Programs

Our Montessori school creates a carefully crafted prepared environment where every element of the curriculum, the materials, and the classroom is designed to engage the young learner. The materials respond to the developmental needs of our children while building basic concepts and skills.

Much of the work is self-correcting, freeing the teacher to carefully observe and keep detailed records of the progress made by the children. SWMA classrooms are places that feel like home and facilitate cooperative learning and integrated curriculum.
 

South Walton Montessori Academy offers the following programs

• Toddler:  ages 18 months – 3 years
  
• Primary: ages 3-6 years
  
• Lower Elementary: ages 6-9 years
  
• Upper Elementary: ages 9-12 years
  

SWMA classrooms consist of children mixed in ages within a 3-year development span. Consistent with Montessori practice, each SWMA classroom includes a multiage grouping of children. The three-year age span in each class provides a family like grouping where learning can take place naturally. More experienced children share what they have learned while reinforcing their own learning.

Each classroom presents a prepared environment with materials and activities designed for all the levels of learning within that age group. Mixing ages enables the older, more socially advanced and capable children to become role models for the younger ones. A feeling of community develops as younger children are aided by older ones and as older children learn  leadership through their experiences with younger children. In a mixed-age classroom, children can choose friendships based on common interest, not just age.

Each classroom presents a prepared environment with materials and activities designed for all the levels of learning within that age group. The Montessori-based curriculum embraces the full development of the youngster, addressing all aspects (physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual) of the whole child.

The curriculum is carefully structured and subject areas are joined together for integrative learning. Students become actively engaged in their studies as they develop self-discipline and an internal sense of purpose and motivation. The classroom extends out of doors where children learn about the natural environment (explore nature, tend gardens and birdfeeders, measure rainfall, etc.), play freely with friends, and participate in community events.

Main areas of our curriculum

• Practical Life: care of self and the environment Sensorial: the understanding of shapes and relationships across senses
• Math: from simple arithmetic and geometry and moves up to algebra and advanced geometry
• Language: reading, writing, grammar, spelling, and self-expression
• Cultural Subjects: science, geology, geography, astronomy, history, zoology, botany, biology, chemistry, and physics.

Other areas of curriculum essential to the education of the whole child include movement and physical education, music and drama programs, art programs, foreign language studies, science exploration, and social experiences. Many of these activities are included within classroom programs on a regular basis, while some are offered as extracurricular classes during the course of the school year.