Our MissionWestwood develops character, fosters community, and promotes academic excellence in a welcoming, supportive environment. Our vision, as teachers and parents, is to encourage students in responsible citizenship so each can make a positive, personal contribution and actively participate in the national and global community. Since 1986, The Westwood School has provided an outstanding Montessori environmen, beginning at the pre-school level, that is now blended with the International Baccalaureate curriculum. Westwood is an authorized IB Middle Years Programme School (grades 7-10). We are a candidate school for the IB Diploma Programme (grades 11-12). - Offers programs for beginner through secondary school
- Emphasis placed on personal ethics and responsibility within a caring, supportive community
- Emphasis placed on the individual relationship between each child and the teacher
- Core athleticism expands students' mastery of mind and body to excel both on and off the field of play
- Specific assignments build students' confidence through experimentation, repetition, and recitation
- Balance of one-on-one and small group presentations
- Carefully planned homework assignments enhance students' mastery of concepts
- Provides an environment where students develop a strong sense of independence, self-confidence, and self-discipline
- Standardized tests, administered after basic concepts are acquired, provide benchmarks and tools to further evaluate skills
- Tradition of student-to-student mentoring affords each student the opportunity to solidify personal skills while guiding peers
- Students commit to leaving the world better than they found it, becoming better themselves in the process
- Annual Shakespeare production and various national competitions enable students to sharpen leadership skills and understand group dynamics and project management
- Graduates go out into the world not just to do great things but to do the right things
1. Traditional Method: - Curriculum structured with little regard for child's interests
Montessori Method:
- Child's work is self-paced from own interest, abilities
2. Traditional Method: - Teacher-driven curriculum
Montessori Method: - Child formulates concepts from exploration of materials
3. Traditional Method: - Emphasis on rote knowledge, social development
Montessori Method: - Emphasis on cognitiv structure, social development
4. Traditional Method: - Few materials for sensory, concrete manipulation
Montessori Method: - Multi-sensory materials for physical exploration, development as concept base
5. Traditional Method: Montessori Method: 6. Traditional Method: - Child usually given specific time for work
Montessori Method: - Child works as long as desired on chosen project
7. Traditional Method: - Instruction pace set by group norm or teacher
Montessori Method: - Child sets own learning pace to internalize information
8. Traditional Method: - Errors corrected by teacher
Montessori Method: - Child spots own errors through feedback from material or help from teacher
9. Traditional Method: - Learning reinforced externally by rewards, discouragements
Montessori Method: - Learning reinforced internally through child's repetition of activity, feelings of success
10. Traditional Method: - Little emphasis or instruction on maintenance of classroom environment
Montessori Method: - Organized program for learning care of self and classroom environment
11. Traditional Method: - Child's seat assigned; encouraged to sit still during group sessions
Montessori Method: - Child can work where comfortable; move and talk at will (while not disturbing others); group work is voluntary and negotiable
12. Traditional Method: - Teacher is primary enforcer of discipline
Montessori Method: - Environment, method encourage self-discipline
13. Traditional Method: - Teacher's role is dominant, active; child is passive participant
Montessori Method: - Teacher's role unobtrusive; child actively participates in learning
14. Traditional Method: - Individual and group instruction conforms to the adult's teaching style rather than the individual child's learning style
Montessori Method: - Individual and group instruction adapted to each child's learning style
15. Traditional Method: - Most teaching done by teacher and collaboration is not encouraged
Montessori Method: - Children encouraged to teach, collaborate, and help each other
16. Traditional Method: - Voluntary parental involvement, often only as fundraisers; non-participants in understanding the learning process
Montessori Method: - Organized program for parents to understand the Montessori philosophy and participate in the learning process
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