List of 20 news stories.

  • Joyful Learning!

    The Montessori method is based on the belief that children are naturally curious, and the role of education is to foster that innate curiosity and love of learning.
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  • The Absorbent Mind

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  • Staff Spotlight: Julie Poure

    Julie has been teaching at West Side for the past 18 years and feels that Montessori meets the child where they are and provides the opportunity for them to develop at their own pace and to follow their own path within boundaries, to promote a lifelong love of learning.
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  • The Montessori Mix-Age Classroom!

    In the Montessori mixed-age classrooms, there is always an older friend to lean on for support and guidance.

    All Montessori classrooms have a mixed-age group, usually three years. The mixed-age Montessori classroom is a unique educational environment that has several advantages, and one of them is the opportunity for older students to help their younger peers.
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  • Staff Spotlight: Rachel Seiple

    Little House teacher, Rachel Sieple, is a licensed intervention specialist and fell in love with the Montessori Method.
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  • Staff Spotlight: Jana Schultz

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  • Montessori Freedom within Limits

    The concept of "freedom within limits" is a fundamental principle of Montessori education. Dr. Maria Montessori believed that children should have the freedom to explore and learn independently, but this freedom should be balanced with appropriate limits and structure.
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  • A Guide for Parent Observations

    Observing a Montessori classroom as a parent can be an insightful and enriching experience. It can help you better understand the Montessori method and how your child is learning and developing. Here's a guide for how parents should observe a Montessori classroom.
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  • Why Observe Your Child in the Classroom?

    Children's House teacher Amy Wagner explains why we encourage parents to schedule classroom observations.
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  • Staff Spotlight: Cheryl Pocrnich

    Cheryl Pocrnich is a teacher in the Little House and has been teaching at West Side Montessori for 34 years!
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  • Staff Spotlight: Amanda Howard

    Amanda Howard has been teaching at West Side for the past 5 years and appreciates that teachers at WSM are able to slow down and meet a child where they are.
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  • Margaret Kohler with her family.

    Staff Spotlight: Margaret Kohler

    "At every level, we have a phenomenal World Language program. It's wonderful that the school community values this special experience. I don’t know of any school around which can match our program, so it’s a unique gift a family can offer their child. The teachers are always innovating to make it better, too. We care a lot about our students as individuals and their learning experience." - Margaret Kohler, WSM French Teacher
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  • Staff Spotlight: Rocio Laorden Baeza

    Rocio Laorden Baeza teaches Spanish to students ages 3 years old-4th grade and believes learning a new language from a young age can be a fun and rewarding experience that enhances cognitive development and cultural understanding.
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  • Five Ways Pets Support Montessori Learning!

    Having your child take care of family pets can be a way of bringing the Montessori philosophy into your home. It develops a number of skills along with many positive character traits, which helps in the development of the “whole child.”
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  • Staff Spotlight: Morag Hastie

    Morag Hastie is an Upper Elementary teacher at WSM and feels the most important role is supporting the students in figuring out how to sit in that struggle space, how to think, how to be tenacious, how to work hard. It is a skill that will help them regardless of where life takes them.  
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  • Staff Spotlight: Andrew Sautter

    Andrew Sautter has taught at West Side Montessori for 12 years and believes the true magic of Montessori is the structure and environment allows students to develop responsibilities, explore their interests, investigate curiosities, gain a sense of self, learn boundaries, develop skills and gain knowledge in a way that is exciting and appealing to students which keeps them wanting more.
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  • Montessori Materials!

    Montessori materials teach only one skill at a time to provide children with the opportunity to master key learning outcomes through repetition and practice. Doctor Montessori stated, “Nothing goes into the mind that does not first go through the hands.”
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  • Kyla Knight, Children's House Teacher

    Staff Spotlight: Kyla Knight

    Kyla has taught at West Side for the past 10 years and she believes that Montessori education isn’t just about how smart your child can be and achieving the best grades. It is about finding out who your child really is and nurturing them to be the best they can be.
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  • Staff Spotlight: Brittany Turner

    Brittany Turner has been teaching in the Little House program at WSM for 5 years. Brittany is inspired by the thought and care that goes into creating a true Montessori environment.
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  • Celebrating Holidays – The Montessori Way

    In a Montessori classroom, the commercial ‘noise’ of the holidays is silenced as children are provided with age-appropriate information about the people, places, foods, and traditions surrounding the holidays.
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West Side Montessori is an independent, accredited Montessori school educating children 13 months through 8th grade (preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school). We are one of the leading private schools in Toledo and the nation.

WSM does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic origin, race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability in the administration of its admission policy, educational policy, or any school-administered program.