Programs

Our infant program also allows for our children to receive one on one time with the Lead Directress mastering age appropriate developmental growth. The first year of an infant’s life brings several important milestones. From crawling to teething to talking, the young toddler is gaining control of his/her body and learning to socialize. It’s an exciting time as we get to watch the infants begin to understand his/her surroundings and interact.  An infant’s first year is an important stage of development. The areas of growth span from gaining control of the muscles to the development of the psyche. By the end of these first twelve months, the infant will begin to walk, understand ideas such as object permanence and begin to teethe.

In our infant 2 program (12 months to 18 months), where crawling and newly walking babies have their hands free for exploration, our program allows for the children to use materials in the classroom for fine motor development and cause and effect.  They will also gain gross motor movement and opportunities to sit at low tables in chairs.  The children will also begin gaining independence by self feeding, being able to take materials from low shelves and carry them to tables to practice their fine motor and gross motor skills and also play on low playground units freely.  Our classroom is arranged according to subject area.

Our Toddler program provides a Montessori experience for children aged 18 months to age 3. The classroom has been set up to allow the children to feel the classroom as their own peaceful, special space where they have a meaningful role in their own care and the care of their classroom environment. The classroom has been carefully prepared to meet the unique needs of this age. All furniture is a size that allows for independence and the materials are designed to be attractive and inviting to the children.  Social interaction with other children, development of language skills, care of oneself and the environment, physical development of the body, hands on nature exploration, and music and movement activities are integral to the Montessori toddler experience.  In our Toddler Program, the environment is arranged according to subject area.

Our Primary program provides a Montessori experience for children ages 3yrs to 5yrs.  For our primary children, a clear routine is established for each day, but within the routine the children have the flexibility to choose their own activities and pace themselves rather than having to conform to a strict schedule imposed by the teachers.  The teachers are there as their guides to ensure lessons being administered are being done and the children are continuously learning in a positive upward academic path.  During the Montessori worktime, the children are either working on lessons already presented to them or receiving new lessons in small groups. The Montessori materials are set out attractively on shelves for easy access for the children to select what they are most drawn to during any given work session. The Montessori teacher guides each child through the materials giving lessons in the order that ensures the best academic development. The classroom materials are set up by subject area: Language (written and spoken), Math, Handwriting, Cultural Studies, Geography, Sensorial, Sciences, Grace and Courtesy, Art and Music, and Practical Life.  On a daily basis we create a dynamic and stimulating yet warm, stable, and comfortable environment for your child.

In our Elementary Program, the environment is arranged according to subject area, and children are free to move around the room instead of staying at desks. There are standardized limitations on how long a child can work with a piece of material to ensure all subject areas for each day are covered by the child. At any one time in a day all subjects — math, language, science, history, geography, art, music, etc., will be studied.  We do not put red marks and corrections on the children’s work. Instead the child’s effort and work is respected as it is. The teacher, through extensive observation and record-keeping, plans individual projects to enable each child to learn what he needs in order to improve and correct themselves.   We do not give grades, or other forms of reward or punishment, subtle or overt. Assessment is by portfolio and the teacher’s observation and record keeping. The test of whether or not the system is working lies in the accomplishment and behavior of the children, their happiness, maturity, kindness, love of learning and level of work.

The teacher remains alert to the interests of each child and facilitates individual research in following interests. There are no curriculum requirements except those set by the state requirements, for specific grade levels. These take a minimum amount of time. From age five/six on, students design contracts with the teacher to guide their required work, to balance their general work, and to teach them to become responsible for their own time management and education. The work of the 6+ class includes subjects usually not introduced until high school or college.  Education of character is considered equally with academic education, children learning to take care of themselves, their environment, each other – cleaning, gardening, moving gracefully, speaking politely, being considerate and helpful, and doing social work in the community, etc.

We do have a full calendar that is provided at the beginning of each school year.  We are a twelve month school and are only closed on federal holidays.  We also are closed during the year for three teacher in-service days to provide on-going training to our staff.   We also have several family related activities such as: Fall Festival (evening event in Oct), Thanksgiving Feast (during school day at lunch time), Winter Book Exchange (winter holiday), International Celebration (January), Friendship Day card making event and snack party (February), Spring Frolic (April), Teacher’s Appreciation Week, Mother’s Day Tea Party (May), Music Recital and Graduation for our Kindergartners (May) and Father’s Day Breakfast (June).    We also host two book fairs throughout the school year, and several charitable events.  Some of the charitable events we participate in with our children are St. Jude’s Trike A Thon to support the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, North Texas Food Drive, Salvation Army Gift Giving Tree, and the JDRF Walk to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. We do change up some of our charitable events to give the children a chance to experience how to give to different organizations.

While public schools across the North Dallas area are still trying to determine whether bringing students back to the schools for face to face learning will be a good choice or to continue to allow the children to do virtual learning, Castle Montessori would like to extend a helping hand by inviting public elementary school children into our school and provide them with the opportunity to achieve their educational goals, while staying in a safe and nurturing environment.  Castle Montessori will continue to follow all CDC guidelines and safety precautions related to COVID-19.  Virtual learning is achievable, however, it requires adult supervision while the students are learning.  For parents, this can be very difficult to accommodate especially if the parents have to go back to work or work from home.

Castle Montessori will provide the following for our public elementary students:

• A dedicated classroom exclusively for public school elementary students.
• A teacher assigned for the sole purpose of helping the students with their e-Learning materials. Her goal is to help them understand the concepts covered in their coursework so they may excel in the classroom.
• Students will be provided snacks in the morning and afternoon.
• Lunches may be brought from home, or purchased through our catering company which serves hot vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals on a daily basis for students.
• Children will receive recess time daily. Recess will be either outdoors on our state of the art playground units, weather permitting, or in the gymnasium as an alternative.

Castle Montessori Schools looks forward to helping you and your children during these unprecedented times. Please email us or call us for tuition information.  Space is limited in this program and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Our STEM program for primary and elementary ages is comprised of classical engineering, computer programming, and robotics. A robust STEM education creates critical thinkers, problem solvers, and produces the next generation of innovators.  The program incorporates the 4Cs – Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Creativity.  The program is offered at multiple age levels to allow the students to grasp different concepts based on their ages and abilities. Throughout the programs, children will learn and build a solid STEM foundation while having a BLAST!

We will journey through the world of Classical Engineering.  We will be learning Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Civil Engineering.

Aerospace Engineering

This program delves into the foundations of aerospace technologies. Chidlren face off with powerful air; experience its drag and pressure; learn about laws of motion and how they impact flying things. Children will create parachutes, design taternaut™ space suits, enjoy hands-on rocketry and make keepsake model planes.

Biomedical Engineering

Engineering Design Challenges get children on their feet exploring joints, fractures, bones and muscles.  Children design their own hinge, ball and socket, and hydraulic prosthetics. Engaging activities include the The bare bones on Joints!, Grippy Test, Get a Mask! and Prosthetics Engineering Design Lab^TM.

Civil Engineering

In this program, Children learn the science of building structures and take baby steps towards working like a civil engineer to design structures using simple materials. May the forces be with them on this awesome mission of close encounters with the “all fall down” gravity, thrilling balancing acts, bridging designs and the quest to make the tallest skyscraper!

STEM FOR THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS:

Engineering Extravaganza — Children will get a taste of civil, mechanical, aerospace, and environmental engineering through building, hands on projects, and fun activities. Each week we will explore, build, and create different hands on projects! Come and join the fun!

Robotics I — Children learn the basics of computer programming and apply it to design robots to complete various challenges. They will design, build and program Lego® WeDo robots. Creations include simple rovers and mechanical contraptions. The program specifically designed for young students in grades K-5, bundles designing, building, problem-solving, computer programming, critical thinking, collaboration and communication into one exciting program.

Electrical Engineering — In this program children explore the world of hardware and electronic circuits. Children learn basic concepts of an electric current, voltage, conduction, resistance while building circuits to do simple tasks like light a bulb, power a fan, make a functioning radio. From there they will look into electronics with transistors and integrated circuits.