Welcome to the HPM Community.
We're glad you're here!
Located in the historic Hyde Park neighborhood of Central Austin, Hyde Park Montessori (HPM) is close to the University of Texas and convenient to downtown. We serve 60 children ages 18 months to 6 years old, following the Austin Independent School District’s calendar with slight alterations.
Hyde Park Montessori proudly employs experienced and dedicated professionals and is an amazing directors with 40+ years of early education experience in the Montessori-sphere. Together, our staff works tirelessly to uplift a wonderful community made up of students and families.
The house in which HPM operates has a rich history. The home was originally built for an Austin mayor and was the site of many social gatherings through the early 20th century. Since 1967 it has been a Montessori school and is now the home of Hyde Park Montessori. The lush avenues and friendly neighborhood of Hyde Park make a lovely environment for playing and learning children. Behind the blue fence is not only an engaging and captivating campus that empowers children, but a home to caring, experience, and inspirational teachers and guides. Three classrooms, two large playgrounds, and several gardens provide plenty of creative space and outdoor activity for young minds.
Hyde Park Montessori’s Mission
Educators often consider and discuss the purpose of school. School allows parents to work, helps children develop towards their full potential, fosters strong social relationships between children, expands their community of friendly people of all ages, and schools teach direct academic skills. But perhaps the overarching reason for having schools is, to develop our children into good citizens of their nations and their planet. We strive to be good citizens ourselves, and to help create caring, strong, and capable adults for the future.
What is Montessori?
For many families, Montessori is a new concept of education. Hyde Park Montessori recommends that parents read through the information and resources available on our website to get a well-rounded sense of what the school, and the Montessori method, has to offer for your child.
Along with academic skills, Hyde Park Montessori works to develop the following life skills for each student:
Independence: The student initiates her own activity, ends her own activity, and shows a sense of self-help.
Sense of Order: The student returns her work to the shelf and cares for the environment and materials in the classroom.
Concentration: The student works at her own speed and for as long as her attention lasts (10 minutes is considered good concentration for a 3-year-old). She is able to tune out some background noise while working.
Coordination: The student shows small muscle dexterity in handling objects, pouring, using pencils, etc. She shows large muscle dexterity when walking, carrying trays, scrubbing, etc.
Socialization: The student has respect for other’s work and person, and she participates in work and play with her peers and adults.
All materials and procedures at HPM have these five goals as their underpinning. Work materials include academic content, such as phonics and numerals, reinforce left-to-right sequencing, and develop basic life skills like pouring and puzzle-solving.
An early childhood education that not only address the ‘what’ of children’s learning but the ‘how’ gives them the tools to succeed in school and life.
Who was Dr. Maria Montessori?
Montessori is a comprehensive educational approach from birth to adulthood based on the observation of children’s needs in a variety of cultures all around the world.
The internationally acclaimed Montessori Method is now over 100 years old. Each child’s work is truly to play – in new ways to explore, and in old ways to reassure. Our staff is always ready to support, to teach, to comfort, to guide, to challenge, and to love. Our students are given the space and consistent opportunity to be what they are – creating, growing, and learning.
Dr. Maria Montessori developed this educational approach based on her understanding of children’s natural learning tendencies as they unfold in “prepared environments” for multi-age groups.
The Montessori environment contains intentional materials that invite children to engage in learning activities of their own choice. Under the guidance of a trained teacher, children in a Montessori classroom learn by making discoveries with the materials, cultivating concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of learning.
Have five more minutes?
Below is a short video put together by one of our directors, Jessica, explaining why we do what we do in practicing the Montessori Method. Additionally, this article from Child of the Redwoods is a wonderful resource if this is your first time learning about Montessori.