Parents, children invited to visit the Montessori school Aug. 20 West Milford It was one year ago on Sept. 1, 2010 that Anna Penta and her family opened the Penta School here in West Milford. Penta, who owned and ran a Montessori school for nine years in Totowa, brought her school to the township with the hopes of providing a wonderful educational experience for children from six weeks of age up through to 13 years of age for after school care. And while some parents were skeptical at first of the Montessori way of teaching, Penta said it didn't take long until they embraced it. "Traditional care is more teacher directed," said Penta. "Montessori is child directed. I've prepared the environment for them. They have a lesson on something and then they take the activity out, complete it, and return it for the next person." Her background Penta got involved in the Montessori method of teaching quite by accident. Her husband, who grew up in Chile, admired the Montessori method of teaching. When their then three-year-old son was able to goto a local Montessori school, her husband was all for it. Penta had difficulty leaving her son so when she dropped him off, she just sat outside. The teachers saw that she wasn't leaving and invitedher in to help. They offered her a job and she took it. In two weeks, she was hooked. That was nearly 25 years ago. She opened her own school nine years ago, and moved it to West Milford last year. The Montessori method When Penta asked some of her current parents if they wanted traditional preschool or the Montessori version, many chose the traditional way. When they walked into her Montessori classroom, though, they soon changed their minds. "When they saw the materials, saw how we used them, they wanted the Montessori program," she said. It doesn't take long to see why the parents were convinced. The classroom is very orderly; there's no chaos, no raised voices even when eight 4- and 5-year-olds are busy doing their lessons. The walls are painted a warm, inviting shade of green. The classroom has sections. There is a practical life section that includes things such as sewing and threading, and cutting of wooden fruits and vegetables. The sensory area stresses all of the senses. World culture includes science, history, math, reading. The key to Montessori learning, which was founded in 1906 by Dr. Maria Montessori, is to move onto the next lesson when the child is ready not when the teacher is ready to move on. "We give the lessons and then let the children have the freedom to do what work they want," said Penta. "Teachers can suggest certain activities. But Montessori believes you don't force kids." A misconception of the Montessori method is that there is no curriculum. "There are plans, rules. There's a prepared environment and order," said Penta. And that is evident. The children work independently but also with each other. Their play activities are directly related to their lessons. And when they are done with a certain activity, they put it back where they got it, in a neat and orderly fashion. "We are a community in this classroom," said Penta about her three- to six-year-olds. They respect each other and the materials they learn and play with. From six weeks to 13 years In addition to the preschool, there is the toddler room for kids between two and three years old. The infant room is for babies from six weeks to two years. Penta is also a registered kindergarten. She is licensed to teach children through age 13, so an after school program is available. Busing is available to and from the Penta School for Maple Road and Westbrook Elementary Schools. In all, there's space for 60 children. There is a small play area outside and they also have guests come in monthly to present to the kids about fire safety and karate, for example. There are special guest readers. "As we grow, we will add to that," said Penta. Communication is valued by Penta. She provides a weekly newsletter to her families and a Web site is being constructed. The Penta School is open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. And for those who need a date night, choose Fridays. Penta provides a parent date night each Friday starting in September from 7 to 10 p.m. It is open to the entire public. Stop by Aug. 20 So on Saturday, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Penta is opening the school to the entire community. She will provide refreshments as she gives tours of the facility, showing all what they can expect from this Montessori preschool. "Isn't it great to know you are leaving your kids where they're happy and getting a family-oriented, private school education," Penta concluded.
If you go
The Penta School Open House
Saturday, Aug. 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
1441 Union Valley Road, West Milford
Look for the balloons
Park in back and walk up front
973-728-9400