The Taylor School

d toward this end. We do that by:
• Teaching essential knowledge about the world, in a cognitively appropriate sequence. The material our students learn is meaningful; we explore it in-depth, and teach it sequentially. Our curriculum is academically rigorous and purposefully selective. Our students begin in an authentic Montessori environment that instills a deep love of learning and a broad skill and knowledge base. From that foundation they go on to acquire a rich, integrated knowledge of art, music, literature, history, mathematics and science, as well as the language arts skills they need to learn from and enjoy books, to organize their ideas, and to communicate them to others. Students are ready for the next phase of their education: they can think, speak and write with precision and clarity; they understand and remember what they learn; and they eagerly apply their ever-growing store of knowledge and skills to their own lives.
• Motivating by making learning enjoyable for each individual child. We understand that, fundamentally, a child is in charge of his mind: the choice to learn is his. We motivate our students by appealing to their natural curiosity about the world. We get to know, and always take seriously, each student’s individual context – his background knowledge, skill level, challenges, gifts and interests. The goal is for each child to experience learning as a joyful discovery of the world, and as a rewarding use of his mind.
• Integrating personal and character development into the daily school experience. Our goal is to enable our students to live happy, successful lives. Both inside and outside the classroom, we guide our students as they build strength of character and learn interpersonal and life skills. We go beyond explicit instruction: we integrate personal development into the very fabric of our school, and into the routine of the child’s daily choices and experiences. We systematically model behaviors and skills, and we individually mentor our students. We guide them to experience how an upstanding character and a magnanimous attitude pay off in life – how, for example, honesty leads to peace of mind and trust; how a pro-work attitude and perseverance bring about success; how just action towards others builds benevolent human relationships. We emphasize the importance of organization, time management, responsibility, and healthy living as prerequisites for achieving their goals as children today and adults tomorrow.
• Providing a nurturing environment and modeling passionate professionalism. We want to inspire our students to become passionate in the pursuit of their personal values and goals—and we lead by example. Education is both a profession and a passion. In our school, nothing happens by accident: each staff member plays a key role in purposefully creating a benevolent and orderly environment that nurtures a child’s enjoyment of learning and of living. In their own unique way, each of our teachers and support staff make educating our students their life’s purpose. They are enthusiastic about their role and the subjects they teach; they love being able to help children thrive; they strive for and model excellence as people and professionals. The result is a spirit of camaraderie and a culture of learning—and a joyful dedication to unique, individual achievements that touch every aspect the community.