LECC began its Montessori Program less than two years ago and now plans to expand it for the 2013-2014 school year.  Latta’s Montessori Program began with a Primary Montessori Class that included 4 and 5 year olds.  One of the components of a Montessori class is the multi-age classrooms where peers help and are role models for their fellow classmates.  The child is the center of the Montessori classroom, not the direct instruction from the teacher.  
Although the program is over 100 years old and costly to implement, more and more leaders in education cannot ignore the long term positive results of the Montessori approach.  From the virtually 100% graduation rate as well as the college success rate of the Montessori student, it is impossible to ignore. “The difference in traditional education and a Montessori education is the difference in simply functioning in society and flourishing in society,” says Regina Collins, the LECC Primary Montessori teacher.
As the child leaves the Primary classroom they then go to the lower-elementary classroom which includes first, second and third grades.  Diana Kirk is LECC’s Lower Elementary teacher.  She states that “as a Montessori parent and teacher, it still amazes me every day to see the way the environment transforms children.  It’s like seeing a swarm of butterflies emerge from the chrysalis every single day. “
She goes on to say that “Montessori does more than teach the child deep comprehension while reading and how to problem solve in math, it helps a child unveil his or her true self.”
The growth of the Montessori program in Latta will include another Primary Montessori class.  This class along with the existing Primary class will give 24 rising 4K children and twelve 5K children the opportunity to be a part of the program for the 2013-2014 school year.  
A mandatory parent meeting will be held at LECC on Monday, May 13 at 6 p.m.  
If you are interested and would like to know more about Montessori, you should plan  to attend.