At Hand In Hand Christian Montessori, our educational model provides children with the opportunity to find their passion in life through created growth and learning. We do not emphasize grades or tests but allow the children to create meaningful projects and set challenging goals to reach their potential.

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The learners will receive weekly lessons in:

Faith Formation

Mathematics

Geometry

Language

Geography

History

Science

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and rotational lessons with specialists in:

Music

Art

Physical Education

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Each Montessori classroom environment contains materials and lessons that have been time-tested (some over 100 years). These prepared environments are dynamic places where children find and choose meaningful work, rise to the challenge, and feel the satisfaction of a job well done.

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Traditional school settings measure children’s advancement and development based on tests and grades. At Hand In Hand Christian Montessori, there are no grades because these measurements do not reflect the development of the qualities that we should be looking for in children. According to Maren Schmidt M. Ed in her book, “Understand Montessori: A Guide for Parents,” she writes, “ The child’s work is the test in Montessori environments. If you can do it, you know how to do it. Why use grades and tests when we already know the answers by observation?”

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At Hand In Hand Christian Montessori, trained Montessori teachers provide assessment of the learning needs as well as the accomplishments of the child through observation and activity charts. They focus on guiding individual development by looking at a child’s concentration on tasks and the level of independence the child shows in self-selected activities.

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The Elementary Montessori program has 3 key elements:
-Trained Guides who are adults professionally certified in Montessori philosophy, methods, and materials for their group
 

– Prepared environments, instead of sterile classrooms equipped with rows of desks, based on 3-year age groups - six to nine-year-olds and nine to twelve-year-olds designed with thousands of learning tools to make education hands-on and interactive
 

– Active Learners who have free choice of activity within a 3-hour work cycle and can practice calendaring, organizing, self-advocating, narration/notetaking, and self-reward.

 

These are key elements for school and life success, as identified by Cornell University.

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At Hand In Hand, we offer families the option of having their child take the Peabody or the Standard assessment tests. Some families find these tests helpful to receive feedback about their child’s skills and future challenges as they pursue their academic path. The tests also allow tangible evidence for the parents to bridge traditional education with Montessori. While helpful, these tests do not show the depth or scope of work covered in the Montessori classroom.

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At Hand In Hand, Christian Montessori parents have the option of having their child tested. The possibilities are either the Peabody Testing assessment or the Stanford Testing assessment. A certified evaluator administers each test.

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