History
Thacher Montessori School was founded in 1971 in a single classroom by Maureen Coughlan. Her vision for a school dedicated to true Montessori principles resulted in steady growth. With support from her diverse and committed community of families and a growing student population, Thacher moved into its current home at 1425 Blue Hill Avenue in 1989. The building was designed to be a Montessori learning environment with easy access to the outdoors, plenty of natural light and a floor plan well-suited for children. In spring 2008, Thacher embarked on a building program to add a second floor to the building. This project was completed in fall 2008.
In 2008, Thacher attained a classic Montessori structure of four Children's House, three Lower Elementary, two Upper Elementary and one Adolescent Program classrooms. The addition of the toddler program, also in 2008, was the culmination of the vision for a complete school providing traditional Montessori education.
Programs
TODDLER PROGRAM (18 months to 3 years old) Thacher's Toddler Community classroom embraces Dr. Maria Montessori's philosophy by providing safe, structured, indoor and outdoor spaces where toddlers explore and learn. The adults in the environment are the children's models. Through peaceful voices and calm interaction a serene environment in which children can pursue their work.
CHILDREN'S HOUSE (3 to 6 years old) Thacher's three-year curriculum offers hands-on experiences in practical life, sensorial activities, language, Spanish, science, math, music and movement, and cultural studies. Each classroom has immediate access to the outdoor environment for gardening, nature study, picnics, and play time. Respecting others grace and courtesy is the foundation for social and personal interaction throughout Thacher as modeled by the guides (teachers).
LOWER ELEMENTARY (6 to 9 years old) Elementary classrooms maintain a balance of freedom and responsibility. Children have the freedom to make choices about their work. At the same time, the children are responsible for doing work that is productive and of high quality. Children enjoy work in groups, which leads to discussion, disagreement, and compromise.
UPPER ELEMENTARY (9 to 12 years old) In the Upper Elementary classroom, students are able to think more abstractly, engage more independently with their surroundings, and produce a greater quantity and quality of work. At the Upper Elementary level students are guided and supported in independent learning. The Montessori philosophy addresses the challenges of the pre-adolescent by helping the children develop the confidence to face the social, emotional, and societal pressures of their age.
ADOLESCENT PROGRAM (12 to 15 years old) The academic program uses an integrated curriculum and a block class schedule to prepare the students for competitive high schools. Students run several businesses, conduct community service, work on a farm, and complete business internships as means to build self-confidence.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Thacher is nonsectarian Montessori school that does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, creed, religion, national origin, cultural heritage, age, gender, marital status, political beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, or family style in its admissions, employment policies, and procedures.
The Montessori Method of Education, developed by Italian physician Maria Montessori, is a child-centered educational approach based on scientific observations of children. Her book, The Montessori Method, has been translated into many different languages. The method views the child as naturally eager for knowledge and capable of initiating learning in a supportive, thoughtfully prepared learning environment. It attempts to develop children physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively. Montessori's method has been used for over 100 years in many parts of the world.
Alternative education encompasses many pedagogical approaches differing from mainstream pedagogy. Such alternative learning environments may be found within state, charter, and independent schools as well as home-based learning environments. Many educational alternatives emphasize small class sizes, close relationships between students and teachers and a sense of community.
The Reggio Emilia approach is an educational philosophy and pedagogy focused on preschool and primary education. This approach is a student-centered and constructivist self-guided curriculum that uses self-directed, experiential learning in relationship-driven environments. The programme is based on the principles of respect, responsibility and community through exploration, discovery and play.
Outdoor education is organized learning that takes place in the outdoors. Outdoor education programs sometimes involve residential or journey wilderness-based experiences in which students participate in a variety of adventurous challenges and outdoor activities such as hiking, climbing, canoeing, ropes courses and group games. Outdoor education draws upon the philosophy, theory, and practices of experiential education and environmental education.
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St. Stephen's Episcopal School of Houston, founded in 1971, is a small private school located in Houston, Texas. The educational intentions of the school targeted younger students; the school currently admits children from the age of fifteen months to the age of fourteen years. The St. Stephen's mission is to "nurture the gifts and character of each student to inspire academic success, spiritual growth, and compassionate, responsible citizenship." The school utilizes Maria Montessori's philosophy to help accomplish the school's mission.
Operation Brotherhood Montessori Center Incorporated is an Italian-based school in the Philippines named after Maria Montessori. It was founded by former UNESCO-Philippines Secretary-General Amb. Preciosa Soliven in 1966. The mother organization Operation Brotherhood International was founded by Oscar G. Arellano. OBI provided medical help and community upliftment assistance to the war refugees in Vietnam and Laos. When OBI started operations in the Philippines in 1963, village projects became its first priority including schools for the poor. Ambassador Preciosa S. Soliven who had been teaching young children in Vietnam and later worked with a Swiss Montessori preschool teacher in Makati was asked by OBI to manage these schools. OB Montessori offers toddler, pre-school, elementary school, high school and college levels and is the first school in the Philippines to use the Montessori method. Oscar G. Arellano, founder of OBI Phils also opened another Montessori school in 1975. Smaller in scale compared to its neighbor and counterpart, OB Montessori Center. This little school is nestled in Barangay Addition Hills, San Juan City.
Maria Tecla Artemisia Montessori was an Italian physician and educator best known for the philosophy of education that bears her name, and her writing on scientific pedagogy. At an early age, Montessori broke gender barriers and expectations when she enrolled in classes at an all-boys technical school, with hopes of becoming an engineer. She soon had a change of heart and began medical school at the Sapienza University of Rome, where she graduated – with honors – in 1896. Her educational method is in use today in many public and private schools globally.
School of the Woods is an independent primary and secondary school located at Hilshire Village, Texas, United States in Greater Houston, with a portion of the school property in Spring Branch, Houston. It offers educational programs from Early Childhood through 12th grade in a Montessori environment. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), and the Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools (TAAPS). The school holds a full level membership in the American Montessori Society (AMS).
Montessori De Manila is a preschool through high school program in Las Piñas City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
This article discusses Montessori in the United States.
Whitby School is an independent, co-educational private school in Greenwich, Connecticut, that was founded in 1958 and is accredited by the American Montessori Society, the International Baccalaureate Organization and the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools. The Head of School is Dr. John "Jack" Creeden, who joined Whitby in July 2019.
Beijing City International School (BCIS) is an independent co-educational not-for-profit day school offering an international curriculum for toddler to twelfth grade students.
The Caedmon School is an independent coeducational elementary school located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. The school, which employs a modified Montessori curriculum, was the first Montessori school established in New York City and the second in the United States.
Qingdao Amerasia International School(QAIS) is a private, non-profit international school located in Qingdao, China, offering Montessori education from ages 1.5-5 and an inquiry-based curriculum up to age 18. QAIS has over 200 enrolled students representing 25 countries. Qingdao Amerasia International School is an International Baccalaureate World School, offering the full IB Continuum: the IB Primary Years Programme, IB Middle Years Programme, and IB Diploma Programme. Their Montessori Toddler and Montessori Early Childhood Programs are the only programs in Asia to be accredited by the American Montessori Society.
Nova International Schools is an independent, college preparatory, co-educational day school that offers an educational program from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The school was founded in 1997 and the campus is spaciously situated in a residential neighborhood near the city center. The school year is divided into 2 semesters and extends from late-August to mid-June. During the year students have a 1-week fall break (October), a 3-week winter break, a shorter (February) break, and a 1-week spring break (April).
Springmont is a private Montessori school located in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, in Metro Atlanta, at 5750 Long Island Drive. The school serves around 260 students rangingfrom 18 months to 14 years old. It is the oldest Montessori school in the Southeast.
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The Walden School is a nonprofit independent Montessori School in Media Pennsylvania. Educating students from Preschool and Kindergarten through Elementary and Middle School.
