Hill Point Montessori Prepatory School, West Hills

Our philosophy is based upon Dr. Maria Montessori's vast understanding of children and their natural tendencies to explore and become independent. Children are innately curious about the world around them, and the classroom is a place where the child is able to move freely and choose from a multitude of fascinating materials to interact with, in a peaceful and serene atmosphere. Dr. Maria Montessori believed that all children are unique and learn at their own pace, which is one of the reasons our classrooms have mixed age groups. Children should always have the opportunity to advance and develop according to their pace, and learning should never be stifled just because of age. The mixed ages classroom allows for that progression to occur which is why it is so successful. The younger children are able to look to their older peers for inspiration and help, and the older students are given a chance to teach their younger peers giving them a sense of empowerment and confidence. Maria Montessori believed that instead of forcefully teaching a child, teachers should instead become "directors" and "quietly follow the child" to understand what interests the child and where their strengths and weaknesses lie. By observing the child carefully, our trained Montessori teachers are able to create learning experiences and cater a curriculum based on the individual child to encourage real learning and growth, giving children the ability to be active participants in their educational journey.