APPROACH TO LEARNING:                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                     La La, Summer 2008                                                                 La La with grandsons, Summer 2004

"Every child should have mud pies, grasshoppers...trees to climb. Brooks to wade, water lilies, woodchucks, bats, bees, butterflies, various animals to pet, hayfields, pine-cones, rocks to roll, sand, snakes, huckleberries and hornets; and any child who has been deprived of these has been deprived of the best part of...education." ~Luther Burbank~

·        All children can learn

• Child centered learning fosters empowerment and knowledge.
• All children are unique, and as such they all bring something different and special to the classroom.
• Teaching through authentic literature provides the best context to teach from whole to part.
• The workshop format provides for learning that is both individual and social, and fosters the development of a learning community.
• Children learn best by being active participants in the learning process.

Because of the wide variation of developmental stages and ages in our program (1 mo. - 5 years) We incorporate several different learning approaches because all children learn in different ways.  Different lessons or activities are handled with a variety of approaches to learning, Traditional and Montessori. 

Through our Montessori approach to learning our mission is to meet the developmental needs of each child, assisting in the total development of the child, helping him or her construct themselves emotionally, spiritually, socially, and intellectually.  This goal is accomplished by creating a prepared environment the helps foster the development of each child’s self-reliance, confidence, and respect.  The nurturing of these characteristics helps the child become an independent, enthusiastic, problem-solving, lifelong learner.

There are a number of unique aspects to the Montessori classroom environment and philosophy.  First, and perhaps the most obvious difference from traditional education is that the children are grouped in different age brackets. The grouped ages involve the younger students in many levels of activities and allows them to watch their older classmates working on the more complex lessons - a strong motivational tool!  The older students evolve into leaders and teachers in the classroom, building confidence and reinforcing their old lessons as they help their younger classmates.

Another distinctive aspect to the Montessori approach is respect for each child's individuality.  Children primarily receive new lessons from La La on a one-on-one basis or in small groups, allowing each child to progress at this/her own rate.

The students return each year to the same classroom, primarily the same group of friends, and the same teacher, making the classroom a familiar, stable environment in which the child can simply concentrate on building the person that he/she will become.

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