~FIREFLY~
A Montessori Preschool
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What is Montessori Preschool?
Montessori preschool is a unique learning environment for a 3-4 year old child. Just like a gardener prepares a place for a plant to grow on its own, a Montessori teacher provides a classroom environment where a child can learn on their own. Enticing manipulatives provide practice with fine motor skills, a foundation for early writing and math. Children enjoy working with colorful sensorial materials, which sharpen their ability to distinguish between characteristics, forming a strong pre-reading foundation. Simple introductions to art, music, poetry, and history allow a child to begin to understand their place in the world. In class, children gain confidence as they learn practical life skills. Most importantly, a Montessori classroom allows each child to play their part in a safe, caring community of little learners who encourage each other. A Montessori classroom becomes a child’s learning world, a place where she or he can bloom with confidence. |
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Jessica Martineau: Montessori Instructor
Jessica has developed her preschool approach as director and teacher of her own Montessori style preschool for the past two years. She was trained in early childhood and Montessori education by Cathy Matthews, owner of the popular online Montessori resource, The Helpful Garden. Jessica is a homeschooling mother of five children, and has a particular love of teaching and nurturing young children. She has had children attending Family Lyceum since 2016 and loves the Family Lyceum atmosphere, philosophy, and methods. She is excited to join their team!
Jessica attended George Wythe College beginning at age fifteen, is a certified Birthing Doula, and was a homeschooled student herself. She has a great love of the natural world, cooking delicious and healthy desserts, and for being with young children.
Jessica has developed her preschool approach as director and teacher of her own Montessori style preschool for the past two years. She was trained in early childhood and Montessori education by Cathy Matthews, owner of the popular online Montessori resource, The Helpful Garden. Jessica is a homeschooling mother of five children, and has a particular love of teaching and nurturing young children. She has had children attending Family Lyceum since 2016 and loves the Family Lyceum atmosphere, philosophy, and methods. She is excited to join their team!
Jessica attended George Wythe College beginning at age fifteen, is a certified Birthing Doula, and was a homeschooled student herself. She has a great love of the natural world, cooking delicious and healthy desserts, and for being with young children.
Notes from Ms. Jessica
My preschool is driven by a love of little children, a respect for their agency, and a desire to nurture them and see them grow. Our activities are premised on the concept that children have abundant natural curiosity. and therefore if given a safe and consistent environment, that curiosity will flourish and grow, it will lead them to the things they most want and need to learn, and it will help them find joy and excitement in the work that they do.
The preschool employs Montessori methods which emphasizes self-reliance and agency, tactile learning, stability offered by meaningful routine, exposure to a broad range of subjects, and incremental learning.
Preschool begins with Circle Time in which we exercise, do a recitation, and practice silence. Children then move on to “work”, or individualized learning activities. We meet back together for snack time and then a lesson. Children return to their “work”. Next is Line Time which is a daily pre-reading activity. Finally, we end the day with some free play among the children.
Subjects covered in lessons and “work” include pre-reading, math, science, geography, world cultures, practical life skills, and sensorial skills
My preschool is driven by a love of little children, a respect for their agency, and a desire to nurture them and see them grow. Our activities are premised on the concept that children have abundant natural curiosity. and therefore if given a safe and consistent environment, that curiosity will flourish and grow, it will lead them to the things they most want and need to learn, and it will help them find joy and excitement in the work that they do.
The preschool employs Montessori methods which emphasizes self-reliance and agency, tactile learning, stability offered by meaningful routine, exposure to a broad range of subjects, and incremental learning.
Preschool begins with Circle Time in which we exercise, do a recitation, and practice silence. Children then move on to “work”, or individualized learning activities. We meet back together for snack time and then a lesson. Children return to their “work”. Next is Line Time which is a daily pre-reading activity. Finally, we end the day with some free play among the children.
Subjects covered in lessons and “work” include pre-reading, math, science, geography, world cultures, practical life skills, and sensorial skills
FIREFLY
- FIREFLY is held Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9:00-12:00
- Tuition is due August 1 and January 1 ($900/semester)
- Enrollment limited to 8 students
- Students age 4 will be given preference to younger students