New Discoveries Montessori Academy (NDMA) is a public elementary charter school fostering self-motivation, self-discipline, compassion, independence, critical thinking, social and personal responsibility, and respect for others and the environment within a Montessori context.
NDMA’s Vision
Providing a quality, comprehensive public education within a Montessori context
Montessori Principles honored at NDMA:
Movement can enhance thinking and learning.
Learning and well-being are improved through freedom and choice.
We tend to learn better when we are interested in what we are learning.
Intrinsic motivation leads to meaningful reward.
Learning with and from peers is powerful.
Learning in context brings deeper understanding.
The teacher is a guide.
Order in the environment is beneficial to children.
Montessori
The Montessori curriculum is interdisciplinary subjects that are studied together, not in isolation. This integrated curriculum offers the child learning opportunities that result in a strong foundation in the Core subject areas: Language Arts (reading, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, handwriting, and creative writing), Social Studies (history, geography, and cultures), Science, and Math. It is worth noting that while the division of the world into these separate “subjects” is perhaps a convenient way to write about our work at school, it is not the way children experience it.
The curriculum complies with all expectations regarding Minnesota’s Academic Standards.
The Montessori classroom allows children to take responsibility for their education in a “prepared environment.” Within a framework of order, children are free to choose the activities that will assist them in their process of self-construction.