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Over a Decade of Teaching Excellence in the Murrysville Area
For more than 12 years , Keystone Montessori School has been helping children get a leg up on their education by utilizing the Montessori philosophy on early learning .
In use for over 100 years around the world , the educational method developed by Dr . Maria Montessori not only encourages creativity , but brain efficiency , allowing the child to make connections between concepts more readily than traditional classroom teaching affords .
For example , rather than just counting , Montessori curriculum uses color-coded number rods . The child learns to count the colors so they understand how to count 1 through 10 . Coupled with spindle boxes , the child goes on to learn how to count in sequence , providing a natural linear progression towards understanding quantities . Commonly mistaken as a religiously affiliated or special needs program , Montessori is really designed to meet the needs of every child .
“ I would say we ’ re a unique program . A lot of people really don ’ t know
about Montessori even though it ’ s worldwide ,” said Linda Franke , owner and head Montessori teacher at Keystone Montessori . “ The philosophy is based on one-on-one direct learning , looking at each student as an individual and
deciding what they need to acquire and learn , as opposed to every child doing a cookie-cutter curriculum . What some children are learning in fourth or fifth grade , we ’ re covering a lot earlier . We ’ re hitting all of the basics at age 2 and 3 and working up from there .”
Montessori-based learning is a threeyear cycle , with each successive year building on the foundations of the previous one . Keystone Montessori will accept new students mid-cycle if parents are committed to the program , and parents can enroll their children starting at age 18 months through age 6 .
Housed in a 4,900-square-foot standalone building , Keystone Montessori features four classrooms , two full bathrooms , two parental waiting areas and an outdoor fenced-in area . In addition to following all CDC and local health regulations during the pandemic , Franke said Montessori classrooms are always clean and neat even in the best of times because cleanliness and respecting the environment are part of the Montessori philosophy .
“ Montessori is a peace curriculum that teaches children to be respectful to each other and their environment , even so far as your classroom ,” she said . “ Students actively help keep the class safe and cleaned up . Everybody plays a part in cleaning up together , which helps them develop a lot of life skills .”
Franke said she started the school in 2008 with just four students , one of them being her own daughter . From there , Keystone Montessori had 12 students by the end of their first year , 18 by the following fall . The school has blossomed into a full-time program with plenty of summer camp options for all children . Enrollment is open year-round .
For more information on Keystone Montessori School , go to the website at keystonemontessoripgh . com or call directly at 724.733.1015 . Keystone Montessori is located at 3245 Old Frankstown Road , Pittsburgh , 15239 .
ESTABLISHED IN 2008
724.733.1015 www . KeystoneMontessoriPGH . com 3245 Old Frankstown Road · Plum
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