WHY DAWNPEARLS MONTESSORI ACADEMY NOW? AREN'T THERE ENOUGH SCHOOLS IN NIGERIA TODAY? HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT

The following is a summary of some of the elements that distinguishes our school:
CREATIVITY & INNOVATION: Dawnpearls Montessori Academy inculcate the habit of creativity and innovation into students, by bringing on board, experience tech savvys, and also organizing exclusive saturday classes to ensure the students are well tutored.
BALANCED EDUCATION: At Dawnpearls Montessori Academy we search out the best of what is available among educational models in order to adapt practices that will most suit our pupils.
COMMITMENT: In our bid to proffer the best in education we ensure that a maximum of fifteen (15) students and two (2) staff occupies a classroom. And we are very PASSIONATE in seeing that our students achieving the greater heights.
APPETITE FOR LEARNING: We support the natural desire of the child to learn.
We understand that motivation is intrinsic and spring from the interests of the child and the communicable zeal conveyed by the staff - not through competitive rank ordering, rewards, punishment or educational pressure.
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMME: We also operate various foreign exchange programs, as our exchange programmes enable international students to spend time at one of the Nigeria's most innovative school.
CLOSE MONITORING: Children are closely monitored in their welfare at school and their progress is also carefully and constantly monitored.
MUTUAL RESPECT: Staff work towards creating an environment of mutual respect between the children and a sense of school community.
ACTIVE LEARNING: Recent research into how children learn and retain information clearly shows that active learning is better for retention than passive earning.
At Dawnpearls Montessori Academy, we make every effort to keep learning lively and stimulating - employing games and activities as appropriate. Independent learning through investigation is also encouraged. To this end we have witness an EXCELLENCE RESULT from our students in all our Secondary Extrance Examination.
A PRAYING SCHOOL: As a Christian school, we believe in the efficacy of prayer.

To this end, we take time out regularly to uphold the children, parents and staff in the place of prayer and also commit the general well being of the school to God. Staff and parent prayer meetings are held on a termly basis. Our prayers wall where all our children in the school are represented serve as our point of contact in prayers for all the children in the school. This has been and will continue to be one of our greatest asset.

The day starts at 6.00am with assembly for the primary children and Circle time and welcome activity for pre-school aged children. This is followed by a 3-hour independent work cycle, where they explore concrete materials of their choice across the different curriculum areas within the prepared environment.The materials are child-sized, real and graded to meet the needs of the different ages and levels within the classroom. As the children attain concepts, they gradually move from concrete manipulation to abstract understanding and deeper meanings. At the primary level each day's work begins with guided reading for half an hour. This provides support for pupil's literacy learning enables them to talk, read and think their way purposefully through the text provided by the teacher. The day is further divided into eight periods of thirty-five minutes each across the subject areas. School wide themes are explored as project work across the curriculum and at different levels, enabling students focus on different areas of interest until every area has been fully explored and the required tasks completed.

PEOPLE HAVE SAID DAWNPEARLS MONTESSORI ACADEMY IS REALLY BEST FOR PRESCHOOL AND THAT CHILDREN ARE BETTER OFF IN ORTHODOX SCHOOLS THEREAFTER ?

At Dawnpearls Montessori Academy, we consolidate on the benefits of the early years experience even at primary level. The Montessori curriculum for the early years, which we employ at pre- school level extends to age 6, and as such our teachers in the Early primary classes are usually trained Montessori teachers who still employ concrete Montessori materials and principles, in helping children attain the concepts necessary for understanding certain aspects of the curriculum. This is particularly useful for children who do not go through our Montessori Preschool and join us in the first year Without any doubt, for your child to reap the full and enduring benefit of the Montessori experience at Dawnpearls Montessori Academy, it is best for your child to remain with us till he or she leaves for secondary school. As your child moves higher on the academic ladder, she will build on her previous experiences and knowledge, attain complex concepts and thinking skills and participate in projects and extra curricular activities geared towards expanding his horizon and preparing him for the next stage of learning.

Dawnpearls Montessori Academy has successfully graduated students who are confident, self-starters in their own right. Children who pass through our school have learnt what it means to be independent learners, excellent time managers and are used to meticulous academic work. By virtue of their being in the Montessori community, they have imbibed tolerance, patience and consideration for others within a community. Our graduates flourish well in secondary schools and exhibit stellar qualities overall, particularly those who complete the primary level and are mature before leaving the school.

IS MONTESSORI THE SAME THING AS THE BRITISH CURRICULUM FOR THE EARLY YEARS OR EYFS?

EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) is the British curriculum framework designed to help practitioners plan an effective curriculum over a period of time, which can be changed, and reviewed in response to meet the individual needs of each cohort in a nursery or reception (ages 4-5) class. It is not a scheme of work, but allows schools and settings the flexibility to plan a ‘bespoke’ curriculum to meet the needs of their children whilst ensuring the children are given the opportunities to progress through the Early Years, and to support transition into the elementary level. Practitioners are allowed to employ any of the several Early Years approaches in planning the curriculum and achieving the learning goals. The Montessori method is one of the approaches that has proved successful in achieving not only the EYFS goals but other early years goals across nations. The Montessori curriculum adequately meets all early years goals, beyond minimum standards, and even helps the child achieve more in all areas of development.