Free the child's potential and you will tranform him into the world.
– Maria Montessori
– Maria Montessori
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A Comprehensive Private Montessori Preschool SolutionDiscover Ithaca Montessori: Nurturing Curious Young Minds
Ithaca Montessori School stands out among Montessori preschools for its deep commitment to the whole child—with a curriculum, staff, and philosophy designed to nurture not only academic readiness, but emotional, artistic, social/relational, and physical growth. What Makes Ithaca Montessori Special Ithaca Montessori distinguishes itself by combining the strongest teachers and elements of traditional Montessori with a rich arts, movement, and social-emotional program, all within a thoughtful, safe, child-centered environment. Ithaca Montessori "believes in educating the whole child—mind, body, and spirit." The school embraces a growth mindset, treating failures as opportunities for growth, emphasizing attitude and effort as much as outcomes. Respect for each child, parent, and family is central. The environment is meant to be safe, happy, beautiful, and welcoming. Ages, Structure & Classroom Setting Ithaca serves children aged 2½ to 5 years old. It uses multi-age classrooms, a core Montessori feature that allows younger children to learn from older peers, while older ones reinforce what they know by helping others. This enhances social skills, mentorship, and a sense of responsibility. Curriculum: Traditional Montessori + Strong Arts & Movement Emphasis In addition to the standard Montessori curricular areas (Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, Language, Culture/Science), Ithaca adds a strong arts-based layer: visual art, music, movement, dance (or ballet), yoga/pilates, and exposure to Spanish. There are weekly classes and concentrations like Arts, Dance/Ballet, Yoga/Pilates, Artist Studies, Music, and Movement. Also, “grounding exercises” are part of daily routines. Learning Environment & Education Child-accessible, carefully prepared environments: furniture, materials, and classroom layout are suited to children in that 2½-5 age range. Children are free to choose among materials; lessons are given individually or in small groups; the teacher (or “guide”) observes carefully to match lessons to each child’s readiness. Our school materials are a high quality, “beautiful,” sensorial experience for the child including the Montessori’s famous “self-correcting” materials that are used so that children can learn through direct experience and exploration. Social-Emotional Learning & Peace Education Integral to the curriculum is peace education: grace, courtesy, conflict resolution. Social-emotional learning is woven into daily life, not just taught separately. Children are encouraged to be kind, joyful, socially aware. The philosophy supports intrinsic motivation rather than reliance on external rewards or punishments. Enrolling at Ithaca Montessori The school year runs ten months (August through May) with hours from about 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Attendance options include 3, 4, or 5 days per week, which offers flexibility for families. We encourage school tours with our head of school so you can experience our pre school first hand and in person. Leadership Our head of school Marina Portillo is a highly certified, trained teacher in Montessori pedagogy; and the staff she hand picks are certified teachers on her team under her leadership. The specialist instructors are particularly notable. For example, movement instructor Shabaz Ujima has a professional ballet and modern dance background and teaches movement/dance. Music instruction is also strong, led by experienced musicians and teachers. Our Culture Ithaca Montessori emphasizes community: parental involvement through information sessions/tours, respect for families, honoring diverse backgrounds The environment aims to be vibrant yet calm: order, freedom bounded by respect, routines that support children’s emerging self-regulation. |
