Born to the Golden Mountain Montessori Child Center was founded in 1975 by
Director Rae Christiansen and her sister Doris Jesse Kucinski. Begun with a
class of 12 children, the school later expanded to accommodate 20, and then again
to accommodate its current 30 children. Over the years since, hundreds of
children have benefited from the independent learning they practiced in
Montessori pre-school and kindergarten.
Our location in a converted home provides an environment that is familiar and
comforting to young children, and helps to put them at ease. In addition, new
Montessori students find that most of the furnishings - the tables, chairs, even a
kitchen sink! - are child size, evidence of the Montessori philosophy of respect for
the child.
The three-year age grouping provides motivation for the younger children who are
impressed by the work of the older children, and provides the kindergarteners
with many teaching opportunities which help them to solidify their own learning.
This teaching and nurturing of those who are a year or two younger also helps to
cultivate their own capacity for compassion.
It is a wonderful experience for the youngest and newest members of the class - who
start out looking up to the older classmates - to gradually acquire the skills
they admired, and eventually become aware that they are now the mature and
accomplished student, capable of helping those who are younger or less experienced.
The Montessori hands-on materials help teach basic living skills (sweeping,
buttoning, ironing, etc.); phonics & reading; quantity & number operations;
geography & culture; and care of self and surroundings. The materials also help
to develop and refine the senses.
French language lessons are also an important part of our curriculum. To ensure
that correct pronunciation is taught, our teacher is a native of France.
Finally, outdoor activities in our large play yard are part of our everyday
schedule. We also take field trips and attend cultural events, and every spring
our kindergarteners enjoy an overnight camping trip.
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