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Who we are

INSPIRE. ENCOURAGE. EDUCATE

"A teachers takes a HAND, opens a MIND and touches a HEART." - Maria Montessori

University Heights Montessori Children's Center [UHMCC] is a state-licensed Montessori preschool serving children from the ages of 2 to 6 years. University Heights Montessori is a family owed and operated preschool that has been in existence since 1989. We have a well-established and great reputation in the community for giving students an early childhood experience that provides comfort, instills confidence and encourages curiosity. Our students develop a "LOVE FOR SCHOOL" and discover the balance and success of our Montessori program that supports a child's desire to learn naturally as they mature while also building a strong social foundation through interaction with their peers.

Our PHILOSOPHY is to give children a "love for school" attitude by building their self-esteem through a program guided by a Montessori education. The basic idea in the Montessori philosophy of education is that all children carry unseen within themselves the person they will become. In order to develop their unique physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual powers to the fullest, they must have freedom; a freedom achieved through order and self-discipline.

Our ENVIRONMENT provides students with a prepared and child oriented Montessori experience that allows students to develop cognitive learning through hands-on activities while giving them choices and the ability to execute them. Through interactions with activities in the environment, students learn the ability to master basic skills, develop a true sense of the community and respect for each other.

Our Prepared Environment

Art & Music

Art and music are not treated as separate subjects, but rather integrated into the daily rhythm and curriculum, fostering creativity, self-expression, and holistic development

The Montessori art curriculum plays a vital role in the growth and development of young children. It includes a diverse range of activities aimed at strengthening fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Moreover, these activities foster cognitive development by encouraging problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Additionally, the curriculum nurtures creativity and imagination, offering children avenues to express themselves and visually explore their concepts.

Music acts as a universal language, celebrated by people of all ages and cultures around the globe. Children, in particular, display a natural inclination towards movement, dance, and musical expression, revealing their innate ability to enjoy a variety of musical styles. In Montessori classrooms, musical activities are integrated into the daily curriculum, receiving equal attention alongside other subjects. The importance of music in early childhood education is profound, as it aids in the development of essential skills such as problem-solving and logical thinking. Moreover, music promotes language learning by introducing children to songs that encompass rich vocabulary, rhythm, and rhyme. Additionally, cultural awareness is fostered through songs that delve into themes related to continents, planets, environmental care, and beyond.

"To confer the gift of drawing, we must create an eye that sees, a hand that obeys, a soul that feels; and in this task, the whole life must cooperate." - Maria Montessori

"Experience has taught us, that if offered the right kind of education from a very early age onwards, anyone is capable of entering the realm of music." - Maria Montessori

Math

Emphasizes a hands-on, concrete approach to learning, guiding children from the tangible to the abstract

Mathematical concepts are vital instruments for understanding the world with precision and depth. Introducing mathematics at a young age provides children with the essential skills to identify and interpret the patterns around them. Unlike conventional early math teaching methods that frequently focus on rote memorization, Montessori Math emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning. This engaging approach builds a strong foundation for cultivating numerical fluency and problem-solving skills that will serve students well throughout their lives.

"The mathematical mind is a mind which is especially interested in mathematics. Instead of finding mathematics idiotic and absurd, it finds them interesting and absorbing. It is the preparation of their minds which enables them to derive this pleasure." - Maria Montessori

Practical Life

Activities that mimic real-life tasks

The students learn to care for the environment through a variety of specific activities. These activities, such as pouring, spooning, and dressing, are foundational for developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive abilities. Through practical life exercises, children gain confidence and self-reliance as they learn to care for themselves and their environment.

"The exercises of practical life are formative activities, a work of adaptation to the environment." - Maria Montessori

Sensorial

Refining a child's senses through specially designed materials and activities

These activities help children identify, categorize, and organize sensory information, creating a strong foundation for future learning and cognitive development. The Sensorial area is a vital component of the Montessori curriculum, emphasizing senses such as sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.

This area is thoughtfully designed to assist children in honing their senses while enhancing their ability to observe, compare, and contrast various characteristics of their surroundings.

The Sensorial area provides children with opportunities not only to explore and discover but also to cultivate their concentration, attention to detail, and problem-solving abilities.

The philosophy underlying the Sensorial area is rooted in the belief that children learn most effectively through hands-on experiences. The materials in this area are meticulously crafted to isolate specific sensory qualities, including color, shape, texture, sound, and weight. By engaging with these materials, children can refine their capacity to discriminate and classify sensory information, establishing a basis for more advanced cognitive processes.

"It is necessary to begin the education of the senses in the formative period, if we wish to perfect this sense development with the education which is to follow." - Maria Montessori

Language

Language development is viewed as an integrated part of a child's overall growth, rather than a separate subject

The Montessori method for language and literacy development in early childhood highlights the significance of hands-on, experiential learning. In Montessori classrooms, children can engage with language and literacy through a wide variety of activities and materials designed to encourage active participation. This educational philosophy prioritizes the cultivation of literacy skills in young learners, with the goal of nurturing confident, independent readers and writers who develop a passion for both written and spoken communication. By fostering a vibrant learning environment, Montessori educators empower children to create a lifelong love for reading and writing.

"Language is an instrument of collective thought. The development of language is part of the development of the personality, for words are the natural means of expressing thoughts and establishing understanding between people." - Maria Montessori

Geography, Science & Culture

Foster a deep understanding of the Earth and its interconnectedness, emphasizes experiential learning to foster curiosity and critical thinking and encompasses a broad range of subjects aimed at fostering a child's understanding and appreciation of the world around them

Children are introduced to geography through engaging tactile and visual experiences, such as manipulating globes, tracing maps, and participating in activities that illustrate land, water, and air. These hands-on interactions are crafted to align with the child’s absorbent mind, enabling them to comprehend abstract concepts in a tangible way.

Montessori’s approach to science education prioritizes experiential learning and self-directed exploration. Instead of teaching Science as a standalone subject, Montessori educators weave it together with Math, Language Arts, and Social Studies. This integrative method allows students to recognize the interconnectedness of various fields of knowledge and inspires them to ponder more deeply about their surroundings. It also fosters essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication.

The Montessori philosophy of cultural education is rooted in the idea that children learn most effectively when given the chance to explore and discover their world. Beyond enhancing children’s understanding and appreciation of their environment, Montessori cultural education is vital in nurturing empathy and understanding. By engaging with diverse cultures and traditions, children cultivate a heightened sense of empathy and compassion for others.

"We especially need imagination in science. It is not all mathematics, nor all logic, but it is somewhat beauty and poetry." - Maria Montessori

Gross Motor Skills & Development

Lays the foundation for a child's overall physical and cognitive development

Intellectual development is uniquely tied to movement, showcasing the connection between thought and action that underpins a child's evolving personality. During the crucial years from birth to three, the advancement of coordinated movement is vital for the child's holistic growth. Montessori underscores this relationship, accentuating the importance of movement in nurturing balance, independence, and focus. A deeper understanding of this dynamic can enrich early childhood education practices and foster well-rounded development in young children.

"Movement, or physical activity, is thus an essential factor in intellectual growth, which depends upon the impressions received from outside. Through movement we come in contact with external reality, and it is through these contacts that we eventually acquire even abstract ideas." - Maria Montessori

Montessori Twos & Montessori Preschool Programs

University Heights Montessori [UHM] offers a Montessori Twos [M2] program for students between the ages of 2 to 2.11 years that consists of approximately 15 students with four Montessori teachers.

Our M2 classroom is set up as a Montessori classroom with age appropriate materials consisting of creative, engaging and challenging jobs for students of all learning levels. Students have the opportunity to experience all areas of Montessori within practical life, language, math, sensorial, science, culture, geography, music, art & creative play. Through our Montessori curriculum and day to day activities, students build important and valuable social skills that aide in their growth & development.

UHM offers two Montessori preschool classrooms for students between the ages of 3 to 6 years. Both classrooms offer a true Montessori curriculum that is engaging and enriching for all students. Our Classroom A has a class size of approximately 18 students while our Classroom B has a class size of approximately 29 students. All of our Montessori lesson plans in our Preschool classrooms follow a yearly curriculum enriched by geography, culture, science, math, language, sensorial, practical life, art and music.

UHM Program & Hours

School hours are from 7:45 am to 5:30 pm five [5] days a week from Monday thru Friday. In an effort to accommodate our families best, we offer a variety of program options and times.

Early Morning AM Program | 7:45 am to 8:30 am
Morning AM Program | 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
3/4 Day Program | 8:30 am to 3:00 pm
Full Day Program | 7:45 am to 5:30 pm
Afternoon PM I Program | 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Afternoon PM II Program | 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm

Our Montessori Preschool Programs are five (5) days a week program. For our Montessori Two's Program, parents have the option between a three (3) days a week or five (5) days a week option. The hours offered are the same for both programs.

UHMCC operates year-round as we offer a Montessori educational program during the traditional school year [Fall/Spring semesters] and during our Summer semester. UHMCC is closed for all major and legal holidays.

University Heights Montessori Children's Center