Wayland, MA

5 Damon St, 2nd Floor, Wayland, MA 01778

508-655-5742

waylandmontessori@gmail.com

CLASSROOM OPTIONS

Option 1 | Full-Day 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m
Option 2 | Half-Day 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Option 3 | Extended-Day 7:30a.m. - 5:30p.m.

WHAT IS MONTESSORI?

Maria Montessori, the first female physician in Italy, invented the Montessori approach to education. The Montessori method concentrates on the specific developmental needs of the child. Montessori believed that everyone learns differently, and at his or her own pace. She created a new type of classroom, a prepared environment, to accommodate and stimulate the individual interests of her students. The role of the directress becomes to follow the development of the child, on a one-to-one basis.

WHY CHOOSE MONTESSORI? 

Independence. The Montessori method has been in existence for more than one hundred years. If there is one trait that exemplifies the success of a Montessori school, it is that their students are creative, responsible and highly independent. If independence is coveted above all else, it is because it creates the freedom that is needed to develop, both academically and socially. Montessori helps children to think and act for themselves, independently and with the courage of thought.

MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY 

At Wayland Montessori School each child is encouraged to develop at their own pace in a specially designed learning environment. The materials are carefully prepared and displayed for the children. Children are thereby free to choose their own activities. Each activity that is undertaken is complete in itself and relates to the other activities that cover physical, social and intellectual aspects of the development of the child. Children often concentrate for long periods of time, working individually or spontaneously with a group of friends.

LEARNING EXPERIENCE 

The materials in an authentic Montessori classroom are specifically designed and engineered to increase and enhance your child. “The fundamental fact in the preparation of the environment is to have only one set of each type of material. When there is only one specimen of each object, and if a piece is in use when another child wants it, the latter will wait for it to be released. Since this happens every hour of the day for years, the idea of respecting others, and of waiting one’s turn, becomes a habitual part of life which always grows more mature.”

STANDARDS OF MONTESSORI 

Maria Montessori states it best when she writes, “We must support as much as possible the child's desires for activity; not wait on him, but educate him to be independent. It is necessary for the teacher to guide the child without letting him feel her presence too much, so that she may always be ready to supply the desired help, but may never be the obstacle between the child and his experience.” Alongside these principles, Montessorians believe in a mixed age classroom.

MONTESSORI SCHOOLS

 · Emphasis placed on cognition.
· Emphasis placed on social formation.
· Teacher as guide of classroom.
· Environment and method promote self-discipline.
· Primarily individual instruction.
· Teacher encourages collaboration.
· Mixed age children.
· Child chooses their own work.
· Self-teaching materials help child learn concepts.
· Child is allocated time to complete lessons.
· Learning pace set by individual student.
· Child discovers errors.
· Internal reinforcement of learning success.
· Personal feelings of progress.
· Child is free to work in the classroom.
· Group participation elective.
· Self care learned.

TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS

 · Emphasis placed on rote learning.
· Emphasis placed on rote social behavior
· Teacher controls the classroom.
· Teacher is only disciplinarian in the classroom.
· Teaching dictated by teacher.
· Same age children.
· Teacher assigns work.
· Teacher instructs child on concepts.
· Limited time allotted on projects.
· Learning pace set by group.
· Teacher highlights the errors the child makes.
· External reinforcement of learning success.
· Rewards and punishments.
· Normally assigned a specific location in class.
· Group participation is required.
· Self care left to parents.

Our Toddler Program

Nurturing Independence from the Very Beginning

At Wayland Montessori School, our Toddler Program serves children ages 15 months to 2.9 years in a warm, nurturing, and carefully prepared environment designed to support the unique developmental needs of young children. During these important early years, children are developing independence, language, coordination, concentration, and a sense of self. Our Montessori approach honors each child as a capable and curious learner while providing the guidance and support needed to help them thrive:

• Individualized Learning

  Every child develops at their own pace. Our experienced educators carefully observe each child and provide individualized guidance that supports their unique interests, abilities, and developmental needs. This personalized approach fosters confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.
  

• Practical Life Activities

  Practical Life forms the heart of the toddler environment. Children engage in meaningful activities such as pouring, spooning, washing tables, food preparation, dressing, caring for plants, and cleaning up after themselves. These activities help develop coordination, concentration, independence, and self-confidence while giving children opportunities to contribute meaningfully to their community.
  

• Language Development

  The toddler years are a remarkable period for language acquisition. Through songs, stories, conversations, vocabulary enrichment, classified language materials, and rich social interactions, children develop communication skills and build a strong foundation for future literacy. Our educators model respectful language and encourage children to express their thoughts, needs, and emotions with confidence.
  

• Sensorial Exploration

  Young children learn through their senses. Our carefully selected materials invite children to touch, sort, compare, observe, and explore the world around them. Through hands-on experiences, toddlers refine their senses, strengthen observation skills, and develop an understanding of their environment.
  

• Movement and Coordination

  Movement is essential to toddler development. Our environment encourages purposeful movement through activities that support both gross and fine motor development. Children have opportunities to climb, carry, balance, walk, pour, transfer, and manipulate materials that strengthen coordination and body awareness.
  

• Social and Emotional Development

  Within our peaceful Montessori community, children learn important social skills such as grace and courtesy, empathy, cooperation, patience, and respect for others. Educators provide gentle guidance to help children develop emotional awareness, self-regulation, and positive relationships with peers and adults.
  

• Arts, Culture, and Nature

  Toddlers are naturally curious about the world around them. Through music, art, movement, seasonal celebrations, cultural experiences, and nature exploration, children begin developing an appreciation for diversity and the beauty of the natural world. Outdoor play and hands-on experiences in nature are an important part of our daily routine, fostering wonder, observation, and environmental awareness.
  

At Wayland Montessori School, we believe that even our youngest learners are capable, competent, and deserving of respect. Our Toddler Program provides a strong foundation for future learning by nurturing independence, confidence, curiosity, and joy during these formative years.

Our Primary Program

A Foundation for Lifelong Learning

At Wayland Montessori, we believe that every child is unique and deserves an education tailored to their individual needs and pace. Our primary program offers:

• Individualized Learning

  Our experienced educators provide one-on-one attention, ensuring each child progresses at their own optimal pace.
  

• Practical Life Skills

  Children engage in activities that develop fine motor skills, concentration, and independence.
  

• Language Development

  Through various materials and activities, we nurture early literacy skills and a love for language.
  

• Mathematical Foundations

  Concrete materials introduce mathematical concepts, laying the groundwork for abstract thinking.
  

• Sensorial Exploration

  Children refine their senses through specially designed Montessori materials.
  

• Cultural Studies

  We introduce children to the wonders of geography, science, and cultural diversity.
  

• Arts and Creativity

  Our program encourages self-expression through various art forms and creative activities.
  

• Nature Connection

  We emphasize the importance of environmental awareness and provide opportunities for nature exploration.
  

PRACTICAL LIFE ACTIVITIES

In the Practical Life area, children work with familiar household activities that they see in everyday life, such as washing, sweeping, etc. By working in this area, children are not only gaining their essential life skills but they are also developing eye-hand coordination and the ability to concentrate for long periods of time, covering the duration of an activity. As a result of their own achievements, they build self-confidence.

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

Social skills are developed in conjunction with a vocabulary that is based on real experience. These tasks help prepare the children for reading and writing but also look beyond such basic skills into the pleasures of reading and writing, and the imagination and creation that is involved.

MATHEMATICS ACTIVITIES

In the Children’s House, mathematical concepts are introduced to the children in a concrete form. By working with these materials, children slowly grasp concrete ideas and gradually form abstract concepts. This work provides them with a solid foundation for elemental mathematical principles used later in arithmetic work.

SENSORIAL EXPLORATION

Children are keen observers, and as a result, extremely aware of the world. Through their senses, they are constantly exploring their environment. The sensorial materials challenge the children on a number of levels, most importantly, they encourage the children to engage with the elements of the world. These selected activities nourish and develop the senses, especially communication, observation and exploration.

ARTs, CULTURE and Nature

One of the fundamental tenets to Montessori education is culture. Montessori students are well rounded because Montessori strives, above all else, to connect the child to the concrete, material world. Through various activities and materials, Montessori exposes children to the joys of culture. We constantly strive to expose our students to a wide range of cultural activities, which include music, art, geography. We also have partnered up with Mass Audobon Broadmoor to bring a great nature experience here to our classrooms weekly with Mr. Ken.