Heritage Montessori School of Lake Forest

• Heritage Montessori grew out of a close personal and professional relationship with Dr Maria Montessori, and our mission is, quite simply, to continue her work. As the first montessori school in Orange County and one of the first montessori schools in the US, Heritage has a unique responsibility and, with it, a unique opportunity to weave together a strong sense of community, as the legacy we embrace is shared in the lives of the teachers and families we have touched since 1962.
• At Heritage Montessori, we want our students to grow into independent problem solvers and caring, responsible citizens. With those goals in mind, teachers prepare the environment to a high degree of perfection with a series of sequential, manipulative and sensorial materials. With the prepared environment set, our curriculum can properly function to address the child`s natural tendency for physical and social growth.
• The job of a well-trained Montessori teacher is to develop an individualized curriculum for each child and to bridge the gap between the materials within the environment and the child. The teacher begins by acutely observing each child, and reflecting upon his observations to carefully craft the level-appropriate curriculum for the child. Thus, the environment becomes a nourishing place for each and every child no matter the child`s level of development. The physical space in which our programs take place is one of the most important contributors to our success, second only to the quality of our staff.

PRIMARY PROGRAM: AGES 2-6 YEARS OLD -The Primary program is Preschool through Kindergarten age children and consists of five main areas:Practical Life,Sensorial,Language Arts,Mathand the exploration ofPhysical, Cultural & Natural Worlds. Once a child has mastered the lesson the teacher continues through the sequence of materials. There are no limits to the amount of knowledge a child may obtain during these formative years. The environment builds a strong academic and social foundation for later learning. Emphasis is placed onunderstanding the world around them,forming a positive self-image, andrespecting all life

Student-Teacher Ratio:

• Preschool: 1:12
• Elementary: 1:24