News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A Montessori Learning Center is coming to Cookeville in June to fill a gap two women saw in early education.
KDB Montessori Co-Owner Heather May said the Montessori learning method focuses on a child’s interests through guided activities. May said this can be a more efficient teaching method than instruction based on memorization.
“The guides just kind of watch and observe and instruct as needed, so it’s kind of cool,” May said. “What I’ve learned from watching my own children go through a Montessori program is that they just seem to be more independent because they’re able to do things on their own.”
May said that the creation came together thanks to her partnership with Kimberly Bynum, for whom KDB Montessori is named after. May said that Bynum was just finishing her Montessori credentials when they met.
Enrollment is open now by visiting kdbmontessori.com or calling (931) 349-9164. May said that this is not a daycare program but families can test the Montessori program during the summer sessions beginning June 7. She said the program is designed for kids age 3-6 who are potty trained.
“If you want to just test the waters and find out if Montessori is the right fit for your child this is going to be a great opportunity to do so,” May said. “It’s also going to be really good for kids that are just exiting kindergarten. Because summer school can be strenuous but you want to keep them active in a learning environment, this is going to be a great alternative to that.”
May said they do two-day a week sessions of three hours in the morning and afternoon. She said each month is summer there will be themes like hometown heroes, the circle of life and summer safari.
“We also do whole groups on the last Friday of the month. We bring a field trip to our classroom,” May said. “We don’t go out on field trips but every month, the last Friday of the month we have a special visitor come in.”
May said that while working in summer camps herself, she could make a distinction of which kids had and had not been in Montessori.
“They would just go and get themselves a drink of water or they would just go and use the restroom, everything is kind of free-range in the Montessori program,” May said. “When they were told to let us know before they go to the bathroom. Asking before they have to use the restroom is just a foreign concept to them because they’re just used to being independent and self-guided and it’s just one of the biggest benefits of enrolling your child in the Montessori program is that they’re learning to do things on their own.”
May said that the three hour sessions are from 8:30 AM-11:30 AM and 1:00 PM-4:00 PM, to accommodate the pickup and drop off of older kids in the family. The KDB Montessori will be located at 599 Vickers Place Suite B.
