Cultivating Lifelong Learners
Hands on Learning
Greenhouse Montessori provides learning experiences for the students.
The more alive and applicable learning is, the more it sticks with the
child. We constantly include live animals, bugs, science experiments,
and more.
Life Skills
Executive functioning is something that makes us better decision makers, and contributing members of the world. By giving children the opportunity to learn by doing, making mistakes, going through a process to achieve a goal, and being understanding of our uniqueness as humans, they will gain valuable tools for life. These are things there aren't lesson plans for, nor are we able to quantify them immediately, we just know they are important and we allow our students to practice it daily.
Outdoor Environment
As much time as we can spend outside, the better. Our facility is
located on an acre lot, with much space to play, learn, and explore.
During outdoor environment, parent volunteers are encouraged to help and
the children have time to work outside doing classroom extensions,
science, cooperative games, nature exploration, and more. We became a
certified Nature Explore Classroom in 2015 with the Arbor Day
Foundation. This certification recognizes a commitment to connecting
children with nature.
Gardening
Understanding our role in nature starts in our own backyard. Our garden has plenty of space to plant and harvest. We have several garden boxes for our vegetables as well as a few flower beds entirely planted by the children. For a child the see how one seed provides a feast is important at Greenhouse Montessori. They plant the seeds and are shown how the roots grow and the leaves sprout as they peacefully tend to the plants. Our sitting area within the garden yields to sounds of birds and many animals from the farm next door.
Other Special Things about Greenhouse
Family Involvement
Family involvement makes such a difference in a community. We plan a
family night once a month for our school community. These events include
food, games, activities, and quality time spent together. It is very
exciting for me to watch fathers holding babies that belong to another
family, and the whole night of mingling that looks more like a family
reunion than a school party. This is one of my favorite parts of our
school.
Music
Our music teacher, Mr. Aaron, comes to Greenhouse Montessori to
provide a unique Music Program for the children. The program integrates
different types of instruments, music & movement, music education,
and more depending on the classroom level. Additionally, this program
helps to coordinate performance opportunities throughout the year at
different family events which allows the children to present what they
have learned.
Philantrophy
Showing children how to be good citizens and contributing members of
society begins young. When children are given different ways that they
can help others, it becomes a part of them. Numerous times throughout
the year we participate in different events that show the students many
ways to help others. From toy donations, Feed my Starving Children visits,
to making ornaments and taking socks for friends at the assisted
living home, our students are familiar with ways to help make someone’s
day brighter.
Field Trips
The children at Greenhouse have many opportunities to enjoy experiences
outside of the classroom as well. Throughout the year, the teachers and
parents come together to coordinate field trips to all kinds of
different places from the pumpkin patch to cultural festivals. These
trips encourage parent involvement, hands on learning, and memorable
experiences. Connecting to our community in this way is an important
aspect of Greenhouse Montessori.