Montessori Academy of Bear Creek

	The ratio of teacher to student at MABC is 1:10. The Montessori teacher (or "directress") functions as a designer of the environment, resource person, role model, demonstrator, record-keeper and meticulous observer of each child's behavior and growth. The teacher facilitates learning.

	Materials are arranged on shelves, and each material isolates one concept or skill. The intention of the materials is to help children work and learn at their own pace and to see abstract ideas presented in a concrete way.

	MABC follows the Montessori system of an integrated curriculum. For example, if the students were studying Africa, they would look at the physical geography and economy, but would also read African folk tales, research endangered species, create traditional instruments, learn basic Swahili, and prepare meals from various African cultures.

	The environment of MABC includes an outdoor classroom area as well as a play area.

MABC elementary is for children who are in 1st - 6th grades.

Montessori Academy of Bear Creek's elementary classroom:
• Continues the development started in the pre-school classroom.
• Awakens the imagination of the child who is now ready for the broader view of the world.
• Plants the seeds of interest in all curriculum areas including culture, history, geography, botany, zoology, art, music and physical education.
• Provides an environment for experience, exploration and discovery beyond the classroom walls.

The elementary environment builds on the pre-primary experience, reflects a new stage of development, and offers the following:
• An integration of the arts, sciences, geography, history, and language that evokes the imagination and abstraction of the elementary child.
• The presentation of knowledge as a part of a large-scale narrative that unfolds the origins of the earth, of life, of human communities (agricultural and urban), of empires, and of modern history, always in the context of the inter-relatedness of life.
• The presentation of the formal scientific language of zoology, botany, anthropology, geography, geology, etc., exposes the child to accurate, organized information that reflects the child's intelligence and interests.
• The use of time-lines, picture charts, and other visual aids provides a linguistic and visual overview of the first principles of zoology, anthropology, geography, and geology.
• The math curriculum is presented with concrete materials that simultaneously reveal the arithmetic, geometric, and algebraic concepts.
• The emphasis on open-ended research and in-depth study uses primary and secondary sources (books) as well as other materials.
• "Going out" entails the ongoing use of community resources that extend beyond the four walls of the classroom.

Montessori-trained adults are able to integrate the teaching of all subjects, not as isolated disciplines, but as a part of a whole intellectual tradition.

Contact Montessori Academy of Bear Creek

"MABC gave me self-confidence and a love for learning that has been an integral part of my educational experience."
- Rebecca (Ph.D. in School Psychology from UC-Berkeley, and former MABC student)

"Grant couldn't have had a better educational foundation. If Montessori continued through high school, he would still be there!"
- Parent of former MABC student

"Thank you for all you have done for Ella! She has absolutely flourished in the wonderful environment you have helped create for her. We will remember you always!
- Parent of former MABC student