Is Smallville Montessori for
me and my family?

There’s so much more to a Montessori education than we can show you here. So, if you want to learn more about whether we’re a good fit for you and your child, reach out and we can schedule a visit. Come see our beautiful school, meet our warm staff and teachers, and see for yourself how much your child will love it at Smallville Montessori. We can’t wait to meet you!

 
 
 

Smallville Montessori

Explore. Discover. Learn.

About Us

From our very inception we have always believed in Maria Montessori’s philosophy of engaging children in sustained and productive work as one of the best ways for them to learn. It may come as a surprise to some but play is a child’s work. And while our schools may look fun with all the toys, books, puzzles, and various activities, everything has a purpose meant to capture our children’s imagination and engage their intellect. The freedom to pursue their individual interests gives the children the ability to learn at their own pace and develop their confidence. This is where our teachers come in by providing the structured environment most conducive for the children to learn not only with each other but also how to behave.

Smallville Montessori was established in 2010 by Teacher Leni Sanchez, a graduate of the London Montessori Centre and certified early childhood psychologist, who firmly believes in using a purely Montessori method of teaching. That is why our schools are equipped with a child-friendly kitchen, furniture, and didactic Montessori materials. Our teachers, who have been trained to meet international Montessori standards, are also very uncompromising because of their passion for teaching and, most importantly, the children. Since 2013, the school has grown along with its first batch of students and now includes an elementary department, and 2018 marks an important milestone for us as we have just opened our second preschool.

If you haven’t already, reach out to schedule a visit for you and your children to see for yourselves why we are strong believers of the Montessori method.

Schedule a Visit Now

Why choose a Montessori?

The grounding principles of Maria Montessori’s method of teaching is rooted in recognizing that children are to be respected and recognized as distinct individuals yet different from adults, they possess a unique sensitivity and intellectual ability unlike that of adults to learn from their environment, and that the first six years of life are the most crucial years of a child’s development where unconscious learning eventually surfaces to the conscious level.

To that end Dr Montessori developed a holistic system of education that aims to empower children by experiencing the joy of learning and developing their self-esteem. The teachers act as a guide and provide structure to the largely self-directed learning of the children. Children are free to choose and engage with any activity of their choosing since the learning materials were carefully designed with them in mind.

It may sound worrisome that such young children are largely left on their own but the results speak for itself. The learning materials address the needs of the children at every developmental stage while still being highly enjoyable for them to engage with. They will never find themselves out of their depth because of the mixed age groupings of the class. This not only teaches them how to learn from each other but also how to interact with and treat others with respect.

Smallville Montessori Katipunan is organized according to the stages of normalization with the following preschool levels: Playschool, Cycle 1, Cycle 2, and Cycle 3. As mentioned above, each child is different and no two children of the same age will necessarily be at the same developmental stage. This is why it is important for us to assess your child so we can adequately address their needs.

Our Team

We are committed to excellence in creating comprehensive Montessori program that identifies the unique culture and education of Smallville Montessori. We are steadfast in producing students with exceptional behaviors, solid personalities and with superior academically abilities. We hold ourselves to a high professional standard, determined to model Montessori’s guiding principle that we hope to see in the world someday.

Heading the team is Leonarda Sanchez, the founder of Smallville Montessori. She graduated cum laude with the degree in Psychology from the Philippine Normal University. Upon graduation, she pursued her Early Childhood Development Education at the London Montessori Center for Gold Seal Diploma. While working in a Montessori school as preschool principal and Human Resources Director, she pursued a Diploma Course in Organizational Development, Training and Career development at the Ateneo de Manila University under the Psychology Department. She eventually continued HR education finishing an M.A. degree on Human Resources in Values Development at Miriam College Graduate School. Being passionate in child development studies and interested in further understanding of human behavior, she took a Professional Diploma on Counseling and Psychology at the CEFAM, Ateneo de Manila University. She pursued this eventually to another MA degree majoring in Counseling and Family Ministry at the Loyola School of Theology also, at the Ateneo de Manila University. Since 1995, she has been training teachers and conducting parent talks. Her speaking career started in 2007 when she joined Vibal Book Publishing Company’s pool of speakers going around the Philippines giving talks, trainings, seminars and workshops to co-educators. The highlight of her career has been equipping kids with life skills and teaching adults to optimize their inner potential, fulfill their purpose and celebrate life.

Our Programs

Playschool

Children approximately 14 months
to 3 years old

At such a young age the children in this group typically require more supervision and the focus is for them to learn through their senses. Activities will put more of an emphasis on the exercise and development of their fine and gross motor skills.

Cycle 1

Children approximately 3 to 4 years old

At such a young age the children in this group typically require more supervision and the focus is for them to learn through their senses. Activities will put more of an emphasis on the exercise and development of their fine and gross motor skills.

Cycle 2

Children approximately 4 to 5 years old

It is typically at this age group that children begin to do things because they are directed to do so. Once the basics of taking initiative and having persistence is set, teachers are able to direct children to more specific tasks or give them instructions.

Cycle 3

Children approximately 5 to 6 years old

The final stage of normalization is achieved when a child does something because they know it to be right. Children at this stage exercise their autonomy by actively pursuing their interest and creatively applying their cognitive and motor skills. They also share their knowledge with the younger children of the class.

Elementary Program

Smallville Montessori elementary program develops a continuum based on the preschool experience. Elementary students interact with the unique Montessori curriculum and learning materials to continue their journey toward abstract thinking. By starting to establish previously learned information, students are getting ready for advanced studies in higher level. The Smallville Montessori elementary program endeavors to nurture students’ critical thinking abilities and vision of the world and universe around them. Smallville’s integrated curriculum encompasses an immeasurable range of subjects including Ecology, Chemistry, Anatomy, Art, Music, Movement, Reading, Grammar, History, Mathematics, Language, Literature, Geography, Social Studies and Filipino. The atmosphere reflects a new phase of development and requires integration to these subjects that evokes the native imagination and abstraction of the elementary child. The process entails the use of timelines, pictures, charts and other materials and visual aids to deliver a linguistic and visual overview of each discipline. Lessons are integrated not only in terms of subject matter but in terms of moral and values learning as well, ensuing in appreciation and respect for life, moral empathy and fundamental belief in progress, the contribution of individual, the universality of the human condition and the meaning of true justice and peace. With more than an era of success, the Montessori program reinforces children the skills to move beyond memorization and recitation of facts into critical thinking. Students are empowered and engaged by the process of learning as they work both on their own and with peers under the assistance of their teachers.

Events & Blogs

Early Enrollment SY 2020-2021
December 7, 2020

Webinar
July 4, 2020

Parenting on Quarantine Webinar

On July 11, it is exactly 118 days since the quarantine. Parents with children below 18 years of age are growing increasingly concerned about their kids' struggle in this new…
Webinar
June 13, 2020

BE LCP Pre-Registration

How is Montessori education possible during a pandemic? How can #SmallvilleMontessori carryout the learning continuity remotely? These and more questions will be answered by our BE LCP Webinar on June…

Contact Us

Schedule a visit or Inquire

Smallville Montessori Marikina
53 Horizon Street, North Rim View Park Concepcion Dos, Marikina

Smallville Montessori Katipunan
21 Esteban Abada Street, Loyola Heights, Quezon City

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