| There are many high-quality daycare centers | | | | itself, his greatest implement is being formed,” |
| throughout the Dallas-Ft.Worth area where | | | | Montessori wrote. |
| creative daily programs are being implemented. | | | | According to Patel, respect is a very important |
| The most significant difference between those | | | | part of a Castle Montessori education. The faculty |
| programs and the Castle Montessori Schools is | | | | and staff model respect in a number of ways. |
| that Castle Montessori Schools follow a single, | | | | Respect for the child’s desire and capacity to |
| time-tested, proven philosophy of child | | | | learn is demonstrated by filling the room with |
| development and education. | | | | beautiful and well maintained materials. Real, |
| At Castle Montessori Schools the Montessori | | | | child-sized items are used in place of plastic |
| method is used as a complete and integrated | | | | replicas. The adults show respect to the children |
| approach to childhood education based on the life | | | | by treating them with kindness, while firmly |
| work of Dr. Maria Montessori. The Montessori | | | | expecting appropriate behavior. The children are |
| method often causes confusion or | | | | given many opportunities to practice the skills |
| misunderstanding among parents and the | | | | necessary to show respect through caring for the |
| founders and faculty of Castle Montessori are on | | | | room and the materials in it, and treating one |
| a mission to provide a clear understanding of | | | | another with kindness and respect. |
| Montessori education to parents. | | | | “During the daily work time, a child may not |
| Dr. Montessori possessed incredible insight, and her | | | | become involved with another child or his work, |
| scientific observations of child development have | | | | unless she is invited to do so. Each child is free to |
| proven accurate both over the years and around | | | | work with any material (at her ability level and |
| the globe. In keeping with her observations and | | | | once it has been introduced by the teacher), but |
| insights, Castle Montessori programs nurture the | | | | she must treat it carefully and return it to it’s |
| true potential of each child in carefully prepared | | | | proper place on the shelf ready for the next |
| classrooms with a full complement of specialized | | | | person when she is finished, ” Patel said. |
| learning materials which simply do not exist in | | | | Children have the opportunity to learn by working |
| most daycare settings. Parents seeking a Castle | | | | alone, in a small group, or by observing others as |
| Montessori education for their child will quickly | | | | they work. |
| notice the schools offer an individualized program, | | | | Younger children look to the older children as |
| geared to the child’s natural interests. | | | | models of social courtesy, and someone other |
| “Many daycares teach concepts in a group | | | | than the Guide to whom they can turn to for help |
| setting, using a teacher-driven model to determine | | | | with their work. The older children feel a sense of |
| which concepts will be taught. We however, | | | | responsibility for the younger children, and solidify |
| espouse a very different approach. The | | | | newly acquired skills when they help younger |
| Montessori method encourages the child to | | | | children just beginning to learn those skills. |
| choose for himself which concepts he will explore, | | | | In addition, Patel said the older children learn to |
| and provides materials to assist him in his individual | | | | be patient and tolerant of others, especially as the |
| exploration of those concepts,” said Varsha | | | | younger children learn accepted social behaviors. |
| Patel, Castle Montessori Founder and Head of | | | | This also fosters leadership skills in the older |
| School. | | | | children at such a young age. |
| All good centers provide opportunities for children | | | | “They are often so good at buffering hurt |
| to learn the rudimentary concepts of counting, | | | | feelings or helping a new child become adjusted to |
| colors and the letters of the alphabet. A Castle | | | | school. Older children really love to share what |
| Montessori environment allows a child to discover | | | | they know with the younger ones, and by doing |
| the foundations of reading, writing and arithmetic, | | | | so reinforce their learning, and by watching the |
| and so much more. A child at Castle Montessori is | | | | older children work, the young ones are challenged |
| exposed to concepts of zoology, botany, | | | | and look forward to their future work |
| geometry, geography, algebra, history, science, | | | | activities,” Patel said. |
| chemistry, biology, art appreciation and | | | | Patel said she is thrilled that parents and children |
| expression, and music, all at a level that is inviting, | | | | have found each Castle Montessori School to be a |
| approachable and understandable to the young | | | | beautiful landmark in their respective communities. |
| child. In addition to the academic opportunities in | | | | “While the beauty of our school buildings in |
| the Castle Montessori classroom, children are | | | | themselves is certainly nice to enjoy and my |
| encouraged to participate in daily activities such as | | | | husband Vikas and I spent countless hours in the |
| preparing food, washing dishes, mopping floors | | | | design of the buildings, we are even more thrilled |
| and dusting shelves. Children experience the self | | | | with the investment we have made in our |
| worth that comes from being a meaningful and | | | | teaching staff. Our teachers have earned their |
| contributing member of the classroom community. | | | | certification by passing rigorous exams and |
| Patel said the schools’ teachers or Guides, as | | | | working under the tutelage of experts in the field. |
| they are called, observe and facilitate each | | | | The AMI and AMS training programs are both |
| child’s discoveries during their educational | | | | year long programs, similar to a state teaching |
| journey. Patel sees the program foster a deep | | | | credential program. In addition to practicums on |
| sense of independence in children. This autonomy | | | | the presentation of the many specialized materials |
| leads to intentional learning through use of the | | | | used in the Montessori classroom, student |
| materials and social interactions with both adults | | | | teachers are trained in child development, learning |
| and other children. | | | | theory, and language acquisition. Before being |
| “By design our schools do more than care | | | | certified as an AMS/AMI teacher, applicants must |
| for young children until they are old enough for | | | | both observe and student-teach under a qualified |
| kindergarten. We have created a program that | | | | Montessori Guide.” |
| not only meets the physical and emotional needs | | | | In staffing each school, Patel has sought out |
| of a young child, but is also specifically designed to | | | | teachers with more than just the right credentials |
| meet the educational and social needs of the | | | | and experience. Each teacher must have passion |
| whole person during the formative years of | | | | and commitment to the full development of each |
| childhood.” | | | | child. |
| Patel agrees with Dr. Montessori’s | | | | Patel loves the fact that Castle Montessori |
| assessment of the value in providing an early | | | | teachers exhibit patience, a sense of humor, and |
| education for children. “The most important | | | | a wide variety of interests which she believes |
| period of life is not the age of university studies, | | | | give them a right perspective of their work and |
| but the first one, the period from birth to the age | | | | allow them to further supplement their |
| of six. For that is the time when man's intelligence | | | | student’s lives. |