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Follow the Child Montessori
Follow the Child Montessori, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a private, nonprofit school that “welcomes, serves and challenges” children from 18months through sixth grade. The school is designed under the principles and standards set forth by Dr. Maria Montessori. In doing so, the school strives to engage students’ intellectual curiosity, creativity and nurture the spirit of children. FCM is located just inside the Beltline off of Wade Avenue; it is easily accessible from downtown Raleigh. The school’s facilities are clean and simple, as it is located in a residential neighborhood. The school’s initiatives and progress is overseen by a board of directors who ensure that the school upholds the values and teaching methods of Dr. Maria Montessori. In 2011 there were 126 students and the tuition ranged from $7,420-$9,630 per year. Follow the Child does not affiliate with a religious organization and welcomes people of all religious beliefs. <ref name=FAQ

Houses/Classrooms
Consisting of Toddler House, Children’s House, Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary, students are grouped in a manner unfamiliar to many public systems. With the exception of Toddler house, which is for children 18months through three years, all of the other classrooms run in three year cycles. This means that in a Lower Elementary classroom, students of grade 1st, 2nd and 3rd will all be in one room. While this may sound cramped, the size of Montessori classrooms and the number of students permitted is carefully monitored to ensure that each student receives the attention he or she needs. This is done to allow the students to move at their own pace and master concepts over the span of 3 years. This allows students who may struggle in one area but excel in another to move at a pace that best suits them and does not hinder the educational experience of their fellow students. Students are also given personalized lesson plans, and frequent one on one instruction with Montessori trained instructors throughout their time at FCM.

Fine Arts/ Music
Along with learning the typical academic curriculum, FCM strives to uphold Maria Montessori’s message of the importance of the arts. Elementary students have a 1.5 hour time slot allotted to them during their regular school week to participate in the fine arts program. There is also a 45 minute music lesson that is built into the typical weekly schedule. Along with giving the students a time to blow off steam these music lessons introduce students to the instrument of their own voice and the recorder while also exploring the musical history of influential cultures.

Physical Education
Students are also required to participate in regular PE classes where students learn the importance of staying active and are directed in fun ways to stay active. Students are also given with recess following their lunch. Recess gives the students another opportunity to be active but also allows the students to strengthen their budding social skills in a kid friendly yet adult supervised environment. <ref name=Mont101

Foreign Language
At FCM Students are introduced to conversational Spanish as young as Toddler house and receive formalized lessons starting in Children’s House and continuing throughout the following years.

Classroom Objectives:
At FCM, students work with hands on leaning materials that are specifically designed to help students relate concepts from abstract ideas to clear and concrete representations. For example, in mathematics a common device used to teach short division is a device called Racks and Tubes. Racks and Tubes is a simple device consisting of a tray with seven test tube holders. Each test tube is color coded based by units, hundredths, thousands, etc. Each test tube holds 10 beads. Based on the problem the student is given he or she knows to remove or replace various beads from various test tubes to solve their problem. On completion of the task, the student is then shown the typical written format for division problems. Having completed the problem visually and with tangible items making the jump from Racks and Tubes to paper comes with greater ease. This is the general concept that follows all of Montessori’s unique learning materials. FCM also strives to keep everything interrelated such that one lessons leads to many others.

PTSA
At FCM the PTSA is actively involved in school functions. They are responsible for planning and executing a yearly fundraiser/picnic known as Ridgewoodstock, a holiday show called Winterfest, Earth Day Celebration, the End of Year Carnival and various Community Connection Events such as Yam Jam, Toy and Clothing Drives and Food Drives.

After School Care
At FCM an Afterschool Program is available for children age 2-5 from noon to 3:00pm; this section includes lunch, rest and indoor and outdoor play time. Students aged 3 and up are permitted to stay for a later section that goes from 3:00pm to 5:30pm. This section includes a snack, outside play time, indoor play time and games and crafts.