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Mission: The Deerfield Montessori Schools are dedicated to children and the fulfillment of their most basic needs: The need to know "I am a worthy person, a loveable person, a capable person".  The need for a stimulating and ordered environment.  The need for loving guidance to foster the growth of a free and open spirit.  The need to develop critical "life skills" such as decision making, thinking for oneself, creating, and getting along with others.  The need to view all experiences in a positive light. Fulfillment of these needs leads to a happily integrated person who can successfully meet life's challenges and make a creative contribution to our society. The child is then truly master of his own destiny.   Philosophy: The Montessori prepared environment offers a rich array of specially designed, self-correcting manipulative materials and resources to meet the wide range of interests and abilities of the mixed-age groups. The inner light of the child shines forth as he or she lives each day in the peaceful Montessori community. Children discover who they are and begin to find their unique places in the world. In this way, the joy of life is expressed in each child, and our world is all the better for it. The Deerfield, Riverwoods and Glenview Montessori Schools are currently among only a few schools in Illinois accredited by the American Montessori Society in recognition of the highest level of excellence. Montessori education - "an assist to life." A Montessori education is based on scientific observations made by Dr. Montessori of the young child. Dr. Montessori said, "It is simply an assist to life." She noted that young children learn with great ease by simply "absorbing" like a sponge everything to which they are exposed, rather than learning through logical analysis. This is called the absorbent mind. Dr. Montessori found that there are periods during which the energy of the child's total being seems to be focused upon a particular stage of development such as walking, talking, writing, and reading. These are called sensitive periods. In a Montessori classroom, the prepared learning environment is designed to support these sensitive periods of the children and allow them to easily learn at their own individual rhythm. Areas of a prepared environment include practical life, sensorial, math, language, science, geography, art, music & movement. Montessori offers a unique approach to education. When you enter our Montessori classrooms, you will notice a number of activities or "work" unique to Montessori education. These self-correcting, manipulative materials are specially designed and developed for the Montessori classroom. We've placed them low on small shelves which are easily accessible to every child. This gives the children freedom, within the limits of safety and respect, to choose activities for themselves that they will succeed in doing. Many little success build self-confidence and develop knowledge. Additionally, multi-age classes follow three year cycles and the natural development of the child. Montessori promotes natural social development. Our classrooms are designed to encourage socialization through time for spontaneous interactions (such as: chatting with a friend over a snack, choosing a friend to work with on an activity, or simply playing together in different groups of friends). The multi-age grouping of 3, 4 and 5 years olds in a Montessori classroom supports the natural social development of young children. At three years of age, children are aware of others and are observing older children as well as exploring ways to interact with them. Lessons of grace and courtesy reinforce the key concept of respect for oneself, others and the environment.