Fayzeh Mehrgani - Lead Teacher and Owner
After her training at Western Montessori Teacher's Centre in Port Moody,
BC, Fayzeh Mehrgani founded her first Montessori School on Vancouver
Island in 1995. Prior to that she received her Early Childhood Education
(ECE) Certificate from Northern Lights College. The school expanded
quickly and is now located in George Bonner school on Cobble Hill Road,
Cobble Hill, BC. She has carefully chosen her staff that works with the
children in gentle but firm ways to contribute to their healthy growth.
Fayzeh has now opened a second school in White Rock, BC.
"I have been teaching Montessori to children because it works. I wish I had
a Montessori education when I was a child. It would have helped me with my
math and coordination."
"For example, before the children learn about numbers, they learn to handle
tubular-shaped 'number rods.' The child feels with their hands that rod #1 is the smallest, rod #2 gets taller, and rod #3 gets taller still. Therefore, the child learns that numbers represent quantities and are not just abstract things."
"Another example is coordination. When the children practice pouring grains, walking on a line, or folding cloths, they learn how to control their movement. It builds the foundation for future activities, giving them confidence and skills."
"Montessori is about all of life, a way of living by caring for their environment (dust a table, polish wood, sweep), caring for themselves (using buttons, tying a knot or bow, and then their shoe laces), and in 'grace and courtesy' (how to greet a person, when to say 'excuse me', and offering help.)"
"The children also learn about respecting boundaries for self and others in very concrete ways. They start by using a floor mat or table mat when they are doing their work. If another wants to join him/her, they need to ask first. Their work belongs to them. These little things teaches them to respect their own and another's boundaries. In a Montessori class, children are encouraged to choose their activities and everyone works at their own pace. It means that they learn to make their own choices instead of pleasing others."
How many of us could have benefited from this kind of learning in our early years?
"I find it so rewarding to provide an environment where I can offer children this opportunity."
I am a mother of a daughter and a son. When my daughter went to Montessori Preschool in United States, I was first introduced to Montessori education. Before moving to the U.S. I was a math teacher in South Korea, and I was surprised to see the Montessori Materials. Square and cubic, which were learned by text in middle school mathematics, could be intuitively observed by the child's eyes and touched with the child's hands. I experienced the power of Montessori education through my daughter and fell in love with it.
After raising my children, I studied the ECEA course at the AMI Montessori Training Center in Vancouver. While studying the method with the philosophy of Montessori, I learned that children up to the age of five 'absorb' the environments as they are and that their personality is almost complete during this time. Montessori's philosophy strives to draw children's potential with love.
Over the past three years, working as an ECEA at Montessori, I have experienced the power of Montessori education through children's growth and development. In particular, White Rock Montessori is located next to nature, it has a good environment for children to naturally experience nature and grow healthy outdoors.
Recently, I became a grandmother. I see the preciousness in each child and understand that the time entrusted to us is valuable. I am grateful and happy to be able to go through children's precious moment with love.
Ms. Kay
Hello, My name is Mayumi. I was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan.
I attended MTI Community College in Vancouver in 2006, where I obtained my
ECE certification. My teaching career started at an International Preschool in
Tokyo, where I worked with toddlers and preschoolers in a multi-cultural setting.
My favorite part of teaching children, is watching them learn and grow on a daily
basis.
I have one daughter, who also attended White Rock Montessori Preschool.
This was the time when I started my teaching career here. Now, my daughter is in
Grade 1 and growing up fast. I am happy that she started her education here.
In my free time, I enjoy cooking, baking, and yoga. I especially love spending time
with family and friends, and working on art activities with my daughter.
I'm grateful to work in such a special environment, alongside great teachers like Ms. Fayzeh and Ms. Kay. We have an exceptional team of teachers here, and I am happy to be part of it daily!
Ms. Mayumi
