Montessori Program
MONTESSORI PROGRAM
Because we recognize that all of our children learn differently, we have created two diverse Montessori classrooms to serve 1st-3rd grade students and 4th-6th grade students. The Montessori classrooms each contain 24-30 children.
Montessori is one of the fastest-growing and most popular educational methods in the United States today. It began in Italy in the early 1900s, when Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian doctor and educator, achieved remarkable results with at-risk, low-income children by designing an educational program that made the most of children’s innate desire to learn. The Montessori classroom is both disciplined and self-directed. Children are provided with hands-on materials that enable them to learn math, language, science, and history, while at the same time they develop their intellectual curiosity, self-respect, and respect for the world around them. Instructors give small group lessons or one-on-one lessons, and then monitor the children's progress as they complete projects on their own, at their own pace. Montessori graduates are independent, motivated students who are notable for the continuing excitement they find in learning. There are currently over 200 Montessori public-school programs operating throughout the United States, although not all follow authentic Montessori methods. The Adams Montessori program is faithful to the guidelines and goals of the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). Please see www.montessori-ami.org for further information.
The Adams Montessori program ties in with the District’s mission to ensure the educational success of all students, which recognizes that all students do not learn the same way. Teachers in the program must hold both California credentials and credentials from the AMI or AMS. Teachers align Montessori methods and teaching materials with the Common Core Standards. The program supports district focus goals on student achievement and on school safety and culture.
The Adams Montessori classroom serves as a demonstration space to provide traditional classroom teachers with ideas and lesson plans for working with students in classes with multiple grade levels and for differentiating instruction across a wide range of ability levels and interests.
Students are placed in the Adams Montessori program based on parent request and teacher recommendation. If there is more interest in the program than there are spaces available, then a lottery will be held. A lottery has been held every year for the last 7 years. Families outside of Adams attendance boundary but part of Santa Barbara Unified School District are also able to apply for a spot each year.