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Our School

 

     We offer classes for children ages 1 to 9. Classes include parent/infant, toddler, mixed-age preprimary (including Kindergarten) and mixed-age elementary (grades 1-3).

     Our Montessori program is carefully planned to provide a stimulating environment and opportunities for self-directed learning. The non-competitive environment allows each child to progress at his or her own pace.

     MSGL is the only Montessori school in the Lafayette/West Lafayette area accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS). In fact, there are only five Montessori schools in the state of Indiana that have achieved this high distinction. We completed the AMS reaccreditation process in 2015. You can read our self study here. MSGL adheres strictly to the guidelines and philosophy set forth by its founder, Maria Montessori.

Our curriculum covers:

  • Social Development to provide small group work, cooperative games, and other situations for developing social skills.
  • Practical Life to develop daily living and fine motor skills while learning to care for oneself, and encouraging respect for others and one's environment.
  • Language to develop cognitive, physical and readiness skills needed for reading, writing and comprehension.
  • Sensorial Materials to refine the senses as a key path to early learning about the world.
  • Math to develop a concrete as well as abstract understanding of numbers, counting, and math operations.
  • Other Activities to provide opportunities for children to explore music, art, creative movement, geography and history, science and nature.

You can read our curriculum guide scope and sequence here.
 
Our Mission Statement

We provide a child-centered environment facilitating independence and learning for the joy of learning, guided by the educational philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori. With a foundation of respect for self and others and a strong emphasis on cultural appreciation, our staff and parents create a supportive network for families to help children become well-rounded individuals.  

Philosophy

Dr. Maria Montessori was an Italian physician and educator during the early 1900's. She noted that young children have an "absorbent mind," with which they learn through repeated activity and without effort. She observed that, given appropriate materials, children easily integrate new knowledge and master increasingly complex tasks. She developed the concept of a "prepared environment" in which such materials are available. Within this prepared environment, great care is taken to lead the child through successive levels of educational activities without unnecessary help form the adult. A child is free to choose her own materials, to move about the room as she wishes, to work alone, to work with others, or to work with a teacher. In investigating this environment, the child develops an enthusiasm for knowledge that produces a confident, competent learner in later years.

Parental Involvement

Our school has grown and matured through the efforts of dedicated individuals. As a not-for-profit school, we depend upon the support and commitment of parents. We encourage all families to participate. Volunteer activities include classroom participation, facility improvement, and management.

The Campus
Our five-acre campus just off Sagamore Parkway West in West Lafayete provides easy access both from Greater Lafayette and surrounding areas. The setting, with mature trees and green space, offers ample opportunity for outdoor learning and large motor activity. Our classromms underwent a complete interior renovation in 2001.
Our History

In 1972, a group of Lafayette, Indiana area parents joined together to create a Montessori preschool. The founders envisioned a parent-organized, board-run not-for-profit school. For forty years, the Montessori School of Greater Lafayette (MSGL) has provided a quality educational experience for area families.

In 2001, MSGL moved to its permanent location on Soldiers Home Road. More than 150 children attended classes taught by Montessori trained and certified staff. The school continues to be organized and operated by dedicated parents.
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