PROGRAMS
Montessori Children’s Academy is pleased to offer authentic Montessori programs from Birth to six years of age. Our environments are designed to meet the developmental needs of the child while fostering a love for learning and life.
BLOG
Follow our Blog for interesting updates on our programs, hot parenting topics, current research and reflections from our director.
RESOURCES
Find out what Montessori education is all about. Network with other Montessori programs. Connect with some of the world’s leading Early Learning Experts through our resource guide. “You are never too old to learn something new!”
Montessori Children’s Academy is located on the banks of the Grand River in the beautiful community of Paris, Ontario. The school is an alternative educational experience for children from birth to six years.
MCA provides individual programming specifically designed to follow your child’s interests and developmental needs. Each classroom is equipped with the Montessori materials and is led by a fully certified Montessori teacher. The school is licensed and monitored by the Ontario Ministry of Education. Montessori Children’s Academy is a member in good standing with the Canadian Association of Montessori Administrators and the American Montessori Society. MCA is committed to the full Montessori experience. Our 3 year CASA program prepares your child for tomorrow’s future.
At Montessori Children’s Academy Inc. we are committed to providing children with an exceptional beginning. It is our belief that if given the opportunity all children have the potential within them to do great things. By providing an inspirational learning environment based on the principles of the Montessori philosophy we aspire to develop independence, confidence and respect while guiding and nurturing each child’s individual development.
INDEPENDENCE
We have created a prepared environment where children are free to explore and choose their own work with enthusiasm and interest.
CONFIDENCE
Your child will be empowered to discover their own learning style and set the pace that best suits their individual needs.
RESPECT
The environment and gentle guidance of the classroom directress will encourage the children’s development of kindness, courtesy and self-discipline.
Our goal is to create life long learners in the safe and comfort of our classroom environment while working in partnership with parent support.
We offer children a “prepared environment” rich in opportunities to construct learning experiences at their own pace. They will develop their senses, their awareness of the world around them, their ability to care for themselves, for their environment, and for others. Most importantly, their natural drives toward independence, movement and self-mastery will be nurtured, and their spirit will be celebrated.
MCA is a sunny, cheerful place with caring teachers and classrooms filled with colorful and exciting materials. It is also a community of families with diverse backgrounds who provide a wealth of interests, abilities and support to help our children get started on their lifelong adventure of learning. Come visit and see for yourself!
MEET OUR STAFF
Montessori Children’s Academy has an amazing team of qualified teaching staff that are invested in providing an exceptional beginning for your child. Each individual brings a skill set and set of expertise to share and together collaborate to create an exemplary program for each individual child.
MISS HEATHER
“If you can dream it, you can do it” Walt Disney. A quote that Miss. Heather lives by! As a young child Heather hosted classroom sessions for the neighborhood children in her parent’s garage, fast forward 20 years and in 2003 Montessori Children’s Academy was born. A B.A. psychology graduate from Lake head University followed by primary and elementary teaching diplomas from Toronto Montessori Institute, Heather pursued her goals of becoming a teacher. In her early days she taught casa before re-locating to teach upper elementary in Sydney, Australia. After opening MCA Heather pursued her love of education to qualify as a Montessori teacher trainer and furthermore as a facilitator of Montessori for Dementia.
When she is not at MCA Heather is very engaged and has a strong presence in the lives of her 2 sons. Heather and her husband love to travel and have made travel a large part of their family’s life, including a teaching exchange to Adelaide, SA in 2013.
MCA is a labour of love and part of who I am. I put my heart and soul into my team, the children and the family’s we serve.
MISS TERESA
Miss Teresa joined Team MCA in 2011 as a staff member, prior to this she was an MCA mom. Teresa has certified as a Montessori Infant/Toddler Directress at Toronto Montessori Teacher’s College and is currently the acting leading Directress in the Junior Toddler program. Teresa has worked in every classroom at MCA but will now be focusing her attention on the 0-3 program rooms.
When not in the classroom, Teresa enjoys being active and spending time in the outdoors with her husband, teenage children and their 2 golden retrievers.
MISS. JENNIFER
Miss. Jennifer started her teaching career at MCA fresh out of George Brown College’s Early Childhood Education program. Although she started as a supply teacher, she quickly assumed the role of lead Toddler Directress. Since 2008 Jennifer has completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in child development as well as her Montessori Casa Teaching Certification from NAMTC. Jennifer is currently the lead Casa A teacher as well as the Casa Division Head Teacher.
When Jennifer isn’t in the classroom she is busy with family life, her two young children, her husband and their three dogs keep her on the go. She enjoys being an active and engaged member of our community and is a familiar face at many community activities and events.
MISS SARAH
Miss Sarah is at the helm in our Casa B classroom. Joining the team in 2015 Sarah began her time at MCA as a classroom assistant. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in child development and pursued her full Montessori casa teacher training while working full time in 2017. Sarah arrives each day with her own little one who is a member of the MCA family too.
When not in the classroom Sarah enjoys date night’s with her husband, time at the family trailer and sharing special occasions and celebrations with family and friends.
FAQ’S
What is Montessori?
How Does It Work?
Children are free to work at their own pace with materials they have chosen, either alone or with others. The teacher relies on his or her observations of the children to determine which new activities and materials may be introduced to an individual child or to a small or large group. The aim is to encourage active, self-directed learning and to strike a balance of individual mastery with small group collaboration within the whole group community.
The multi-age grouping in each class provides a family-like grouping where learning can take place naturally. More experienced children share what they have learned while reinforcing their own learning. Because this peer group learning is intrinsic to Montessori, there is often more conversation – language experiences – in the Montessori classroom than in conventional early education settings.
What Makes It Unique?
The primary goal of a Montessori program is to help each child reach full potential in all areas of life. Activities promote the development of social skills, emotional growth, and physical coordination as well as cognitive preparation. Under the direction of a specially prepared teacher, the holistic curriculum allows the child to experience the joy of learning, gives the child time to enjoy the process, ensures the development of self-esteem, and provides the experiences from which children create their knowledge.
The "Prepared Environment"
The Montessori Materials
The Teacher
The teacher acts as a facilitator of learning. A minimum of a full year’s training is required for a CCMA recognized credential. This includes supervised classroom practice teaching. This extensive training is specialized for the age group with which a teacher will work, i.e., infant and toddler, 3 to 6 year olds, 6 to 9 year olds, and 9 to 12 year olds.
HAPPY PARENTS
Did you know???…
1) The Montessori Method Is Over 100 Years Old Maria Montessori opened her first school in 1907. Called the Casa de Bambini, or the Children’s House, this educational facility was one of the first to teach each child based on their individual skill levels and personal...
Montessori Mythbusters!
I often find it very interesting when interviewing and touring new families through the school. Hearing what people believe Montessori education to be, and sharing with them what it is, is often a world apart. Here are some of my favourite myths that I’ve collected...
The Three Year Cycle
The Three-Year Cycle Many people cannot understand the beauty and reason behind the three-year age ranges that they witness in a normalized Montessori classroom. In a Montessori environment, the child begins their experience at the youngest age and remains in the same...
