VISIT

Early
Montessori

The Canyon Heights Academy Early Montessori program provides a peaceful, nurturing environment for children ages 18–36 months. Here, children learn and grow together, supported by Montessori principles that foster independence, curiosity, and a love for learning. These practices make Montessori different from any play-based program, babysitting service, or daycare center.

What is a Montessori School?

Montessori is an educational philosophy developed by Dr. Maria Montessori who spent her life researching youth education. This philosophy strongly emphasizes independence and encourages a child’s curiosity and spontaneous activity.

Four Montessori
Pillars

A strong Montessori education is built on four key pillars:

Respect for
the Child

The goal of early education should not be to fill the child with facts from a pre-selected course of studies. It should be to cultivate his or her natural desire to learn.

Absorbent
Mind

Dr. Montessori spoke of the child’s brain as the “absorbent mind” because of its great ability to learn and assimilate effortlessly and unconsciously from the surrounding environment.

Sensitive
Periods

A sensitive period is a time of intense fascination for learning a particular characteristic or skill, such as going up and down steps, putting things in order, counting or reading. It’s easier for a child to learn a particular skill during the corresponding sensitive period than at any other time.

Prepared Environment

A Montessori classroom is intentionally prepared to support development with child-sized furniture. A clean, organized space and materials tailored to inspire growth are also essential to the intentionality of the space.

Key Aspects of
a Montessori
Education

  • Prepared environment with child-sized furniture and materials
  • Hands-on, experiential learning materials
  • Freedom within limits: children are free to choose their work as long as they are being respectful of each other and the materials
  • Focus on peaceful, respectful interactions between children and adults
  • A belief that children are naturally driven to learn and discover
  • A belief that each child is unique and develops at his or her own pace
  • A Montessori-trained adult who understands the developmental needs of children

Why Montessori
for Toddlers?

A Montessori education teaches children to work cooperatively, set goals, be self-directed, organize their time, see projects or goals to completion, resolve conflicts peacefully, and value individual differences. Research shows that brain development and capacity for learning are dependent on experience in the environment and purposeful movement. Children who are in Montessori environments are encouraged to move, use, and care for the didactic materials that build coordination, a sense of order, and problem-solving skills.

Early Education &
Faith Formation

Children enrolled in Montessori programs consistently outperform peers in reading, math, and science. They also demonstrate better executive functioning, social cognition, problem-solving, and more positive peer interaction. Canyon Heights is a proud member of the National Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Developed in 1954 by Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi in Rome, this program is rooted in Montessori principles and emphasizes hands-on materials based on the Bible, sacraments, and Church teachings.

Canyon Heights Student Life

Discover what makes student life at Canyon Heights so vibrant — from athletics and fine arts to after-school clubs, family-friendly events, and more.
Explore Student Life

Canyon Heights Spiritual Life

At Canyon Heights, religion is more than just a subject in school. We believe that growth in a student’s spiritual life lays the foundation for success in academics and beyond.
Explore Faith-filled Formation

What Our Families Are Saying

“CHA has a wonderful and diverse community and the smaller class sizes and focus on Integral Formation help the school stand out from the rest. Two of our children have graduated from CHA and one child is currently enrolled. Both of our graduates have excelled in high school and college thanks to CHA.”

J.D.

Take the next Step

Ready to see how Canyon Heights Academy is a great fit for your family? Schedule a tour and let us show you more.

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