The document summarizes three early childhood education locations - St. John Preschool, Central Kitsap Montessori School, and a Kindergarten classroom. St. John Preschool follows Catholic and Montessori principles with a 1:7 teacher to student ratio. Central Kitsap Montessori allows children freedom to explore at their own pace in a noncompetitive 1:9 ratio environment. The Kindergarten classroom uses quiet and active periods to engage its students depending on their energy levels, with the teacher finding that knowing individual students helps shape effective classroom management and learning.

1. 3 EARLY CHILDHOOD
LOCATIONS
Amber Moon
Education 455

2. ST. JOHN PRESCHOOL
• “The preschool at St. John strives
through Catholic principles and
Montessori philosophy to create a
loving environment that will allow the
student to grow in faith, social grace,
discipline, and academics.”
• Teachers; Mrs. Carol Frazee, Mrs.
Charlotte White, and Mrs. Vanessa
Castillo
• Teacher to student ratio: 1:7

3. ST. JOHN SCHOOL
When I was in the classroom the students were excited to see me, as
were the teachers.
The students were well behaved and listened very well for being so
young.
I asked Mrs. Castillo what her favorite part of teaching preschool was,
she said “The connection with the students is the most amazing thing
here. I get to know them as individuals and grow alongside them.”
The preschool feels like a Montessori school and the children guide
their own learning. They were learning about nature while I was there,
probably due to the warmer weather and the flowers blooming.
The students knew quite a lot for being so young, many were only
three or four. The older students knew their alphabet and a couple
were starting to read already!

4. CENTRAL KITSAP MONTESSORI
SCHOOL
• “children learn best at their own
pace in a noncompetitive
environment. It allows the child
freedom of movement within an
environment which has been
specially prepared to
accommodate the avid
exploration of children.”
• Teachers: Ms. Zweber and Mrs.
Marsh
• Student Teacher ratio: 1:9

5. CENTRAL KITSAP MONTESSORI
I was able to walk in and observe the children as they decorated hats
for a little festival they were going to have.
According to Ms. Zweber the children partake in many different
cultural activities. A goal of the school’s is to have the children be
culturally diverse and understand the different cultures. The children
really seemed to enjoy it too!
I was not able to stay long, but I got to see how different a
Montessori School really is. The children learned in a more playful
and hands-on way. And there was a very accepting environment for
the children as well.
Personally, I would love to teach in a Montessori school. Hopefully I
will be able to volunteer there this summer!

6. KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM
I sat in on a Kindergarten class while I was at St. John. I worked for the
teacher last year and decided to go back and see how after her first year of
teaching if she changed her teaching style.
The children seemed to be more active than the class last year. But Ms. Barry
was keeping control. She learned that with an active class, quiet time would
not be the best choice. Instead, she had them work with their tablemates on
assignments and whichever table worked the quietest and did all their work
would be able to choose an activity that they would do outside. The activity
would pertain to what they were learning at the time.
Even though there seemed to be some loud moments, she seemed to get
them all back under control.
She told me that knowing her classroom and the individuals was what really
helped her to shape her classroom and be able to help them learn.

7. END THOUGHTS
• As a teacher, I could incorporate Montessori practices within my
classroom, seeing as how many children learn best this way. Children
are naturally curious and eager to learn, and with teaching based on
their curiosity would be the most effective way of teaching.
• In order to have a working classroom I will have to know my students
personally and work to their abilities and help them learn.
• When I was in elementary school, if I had a teacher that worked with
me individually and taught me things that I was curious about, and
things that I had to know, then I would have tried harder and not have
felt so negatively about school, or struggled so much.

8. THE END Thank you!