Welcome to LMEC Montessori Program
Welcome to Logan Memorial Educational Campus (LMEC)! We are excited to be a part of your child’s educational journey and for you to be a part of the LMEC Montessori family.
LMEC started as a partnership between Harvard University School of Education and the San Diego Unified School District. Our goal is to transform education by teaching and learning in ways that impact brain development and through community outreach. For the first time, the historical Logan Elementary and Memorial Middle Schools have combined to become LMEC, one campus, with a joint purpose - to educate students to their fullest potential and to also serve the established Logan Heights community and families with one vision: Every student will graduate with dignity, purpose, and options.
LMEC Montessori will begin its educational program from prenatal to third grade and will continue to provide opportunities and materials to our children and our families based on the scientific development of the child as they continue in the Casa Program. We believe this strong foundation will provide children with a healthy, safe, and nurturing start in life, leading to sustained prosperity and a thriving and prosperous community.
Our Pillars define our commitment to our community:
- Developing responsive relationships between parents, staff, and students.
- Strengthening core life skills.
- Increasing positive experiences to reduce toxic stress
- Elevating our students’ linguistic and cultural funds of knowledge
At the core of LMEC are our Values:
- Joy - Children will love learning.
- Empowerment - Children will be engaged and active learners with a purpose.
- Diversity - Our inclusive environment and developmental curriculum will intentionally include diverse life experiences and perspectives to allow our children to learn multiple viewpoints in every content area.
- Integration - Our curriculum will integrate content and life skills to develop confident, productive citizens.
LMEC is made up of four multi-year phases of development based on the needs of the child:
-Nido: from 6 weeks to 3 years old
-Casa de Los Niños:
- 3 years old to 6 years old
- 6 years old to 9 years old
- 9 years old to 12 years old
Casa Media: for children ages 12 to 15 years old
Casa Alta: for children ages 15 to 18 years old
Your child will be in the Casa, ages 3 to 6.
What is Montessori Education?
“Children acquire knowledge through experience in the environment.” - Dr. Maria Montessori.
Montessori education has historical roots in science and research and was founded by Dr. Maria Montessori. It offers unique learning experiences designed to help your child maximize their potential through an educational environment that is purposefully designed to meet each child’s unique developmental needs and through skillful teacher observations that drive instruction.
At LMEC and in Montessori education, the teacher is seen as a guide who helps students discover concepts by working with specific materials rather than by direct instruction. All of the Montessori guides and assistants are trained in Montessori practices through an accredited Montessori organization. Children will learn through hands-on experiences and in classrooms designed to help them grow academically and build character.
Learning at LMEC
Three Year Loop
What?
During your child’s education at LMEC, they will learn with their peers and guides (teachers) as part of a mixed-age group of students who stay together in the same classroom for three years. For example, children in the Casa de Los Ninos will be with the same teaching team from ages 3 to 5+. When a child finishes their third year (age 5 yrs for Early Childhood) with their guide (teacher), they will transition to a new guide and classroom for another three years from ages 6 to 8.
Why?
The idea of having children in the Casa loop with the same guide (teacher) for 3-year increments has academic and social-emotional advantages. The three-year loop allows the guides (teachers) to know each child’s strengths and areas of growth. Research has shown that this age range (3 - 5 years) is a critical stage in a child’s development, and having students remain with the same guide (teacher) for three years, allows both the student and guide (teacher) to find opportunities for optimal growth. This three-year loop allows guides (teachers) to challenge students academically and social-emotionally at each child’s own level and pace.
It also gives the guides (teachers) and students opportunities to build strong relationships and a strong classroom community. Additionally, there is a strong mentorship between children called peer learning. Children often learn better from each other than from adults. For a four-year-old who is not yet reading, it may be much more motivating to see a slightly older peer reading to them than it is to watch an adult do the same. In Montessori, younger children often intently observe older ones at work and learn a great deal through these observations. Older children may also act as teachers if they choose to help younger ones with activities. Both children benefit: the young one has a mentor, and the older one, by teaching the younger one, solidifies their own understanding and acquires leadership skills and confidence.
