Our School
In a Montessori environment, furniture and class work is accessible and appropriate to the child.
The classroom offers freedom of movement, enabling children to organically explore their curiosities.
Uniquely different from traditional childcare, Cornerstone Montessori School offers a child-centered curriculum that encourages independent thinking. For 25 years, Owner and Directress, Claudia Alvarez, has strived to bring excellence to the community using the Montessori philosophy. Claudia is an American Montessori Society (AMS) Infant/Toddler certified teacher. Cornerstone Montessori School is an Associate Member of the American Montessori Society and is participating in a three-year process to become an accredited program.
The school provides a carefully planned, stimulating environment, which allows children to develop basic habits, attitudes, skills, and ideas that are essential for a lifetime of creative thinking and learning. The environment is fully adapted to the age-appropriate needs of the child, making it a true children’s home.
The goal of Cornerstone Montessori School is to encourage each child to develop a positive attitude toward learning. The Montessori philosophy also encourages the development of initiative, persistence, and concentration.
Learn more about our philosophy →
The Montessori environment is prepared to eliminate inhibiting factors of life and assist in fulfilling the developmental needs of the child during early development. This includes the growth of the physical and mental aspects of the child, the innate requirement for independence, and the support of the child’s social development.
Cornerstone Montessori SCHOOL serves children of all faiths, sex, races, and ethnicities ages 15 months to six years old.
Our aim is not merely to make a child understand, and still less to force him to memorize, but so to touch his imagination as to enthuse him to his innermost core.
- Maria Montessori
Love of Learning
Independence
Solid Self Esteem
Why is the Montessori method unique?
The teacher has an unobtrusive role in the classroom activity; the child is an active participant in learning.
Instruction, both individual and in groups, fosters each student’s learning style.
Mixed age grouping promotes modeling behaviors from the older to younger child.
Children are encouraged to teach, collaborate, and help each other.
Teachers are trained to observe and guide the child through various curriculum areas, as the child is ready.
A strong foundation of self-esteem is built as the child experiences success through work.
Logical and creative thinking is developed and problem solving skills are encouraged.
Lessons in grace and courtesy teach respect for others.
Children may work where they are comfortable, move around, and talk at will (without disturbing others).
The use of a specially designed classroom planned to enhance the five senses and build intelligence.
Typical Day
Dr. Montessori discovered that in an environment where children are allowed to choose their work and to concentrate for as long as needed on that task, that they come out of this period of concentration refreshed and full of good will toward others. The trained adult understands how to offer work, link the child to the environment, and protect this process. The child’s confidence is supported and her natural goodness and compassion are nurtured.
During a typical day, a three-year-old may be scrubbing a table while a four-year-old nearby composes words and phrases with the moveable alphabet. Meanwhile, a five-year-old performs multiplication using a specially-designed set of beads. A child may be working on a floral arrangement to help beautify the environment.
Although much of the work at this stage of development is done individually, children often enjoy working with friends. In fact, fostering a sense of community within the environment forms a foundation of respect for one another.
