Goals We are directed by the philosophy of Montessori to develop to the fullest potential the person the child will become. To do this, the child must have the freedom to achieve through order and self-discipline. Dr. Maria Montessori created her "prepared environment," which consists of ordered sets of sequential learning materials and allows each child to develop at the child’s own rate of interest and ability. Because we agree with Dr. Montessori to "never let children risk failure until they have a reasonable chance of success," we concentrate our efforts to teach basic skills and human behavior without a competitive focus. Through self-motivation, we guide your child to move through the learning materials at your child’s own pace. This freedom to learn individually at the early ages, motivated by the child’s own readiness for successful learning experiences, is, we believe, the best foundation for lifetime education. Methods Our classrooms are designed for a child’s world. By being arranged to stimulate their natural curiosity, they are able to explore at their individual levels of understanding and interests. A Montessori classroom offers materials to enhance positive social exchange, communication skills, perceptual awareness, problem solving, motor coordination, and an aesthetic appreciation of music and the arts. We also teach the use of computers.   As our staff guides your child through this field of learning opportunity, the child develops a positive self-image, a love of learning, and a sense that curiosity and creativity have no limitations. Teaching concepts are expanded to a hands-on experience which facilitates understanding. ln this way, the structure of the number system and the logic of arithmetic operations become visible, phonics becomes the ability to read, scientific principles become demonstrable, the creative arts become practicable, and cultural experiences are participatable. Your child begins to "learn how to learn" and develops a love for it. Staff Quail Run and Los Ninos Montessori Schools exceed all state requirements.