"Megan," the teacher said softly, "will you please take care of this. If you need any help please ask."

Three-year-old Megan walked to the corner of the classroom and grabbed the bucket and sponge then quickly moved to the sink area and proceeded to fill the bucket with water and some soap. Back at her chair, Megan began cleaning up the mess and finished the chore in about five minutes.

No screaming, no blaming, no reprimanding; this is how the Montessori system works and Winhold Montessori Schools, Inc. has been doing it for years.

Winhold Montessori School began in the Perrine community in September 1982, with a student body of ten and a staff consisting of one assistant and Eleanor Winhold, the owner. By 1985, the school had expanded to three classrooms at two locations. In 1990, the three Children's Houses became centralized in one location at St. Thomas By-the-Bay Lutheran Church on Old Cutler Road.

In January 1992, the Dade County Historic Preservation Board designated the "Pink House" as a historic site. It is registered as "The Castle Residence," circa 1928.

At Winhold Montessori School the staff recognizes that all children are unique and must be treated individually. They believe that children should eagerly desire to work at a project, thereby teaching themselves. Knowing that most children absorb knowledge best when the impulse to learn comes from within, the Montessori method helps all children reach their fullest potential.

"I've been teaching since the 1960s," Winhold says. "I haven't burned out in being with young children because it's a great joy to see how they progress in their own individual way. It's neat to see the diversity."

Winhold and her husband, Marvin, moved to Miami in 1965 and are the parents of two sons and a daughter. Winhold attended Stratford Teachers College in Stratford, Ontario, Canada and received her Montessori preschool certification in 1968 from Elizabeth Caspari, who had worked closely with Dr. Maria Montessori, primarily in India. In 1979, she gained certification in Montessori primary education, ages 6-9.
Prior to opening her own school, Winhold taught in the preschool and elementary levels at Kingswood Montessori Academy in Homestead and at Alexander School. Winhold's volunteer work in the public school system includes tutoring, volunteering in the gifted children's program and serving on PTA Boards. She has been a guest lecturer at Miami-Dade Community College and Florida International University. She is an active participant and is secretary in the Montessori Organization of Miami-Dade County.

Dr. Montessori, an Italian physician and educator, developed her theory of education in the early 1900's. Dr. Montessori gave the world a scientific method, practical and tested, for bringing forth the very best for young human beings. She taught adults how to respect individual differences, to emphasize social interaction and the education of the whole personality, rather than the teaching of a specific body of knowledge.

Today, there are more than 5,000 Montessori schools in the United States and Canada.
The goal of the Winhold Montessori Schools is to help develop the child's individual aptitude to the fullest potential by means of a prepared environment, specially trained and certified Montessori teachers and the use of Montessori didactic materials.

Each classroom is staffed with a certified Montessori directress and many assistants furnishing a low student-adult ratio in each of the two pre-school classrooms and in the toddler room. Mini-tours are provided for parents to observe their children in the Montessori classroom setting. Music and art are introduced to students in a variety of creative ways such as music programs, art shows and international festivals. Winhold Montessori Schools also provides optional instructional programs that include ballet, gymnastics, computer, piano, Spanish and French.

"I would like to see parents become more involved in attending lectures and seminars about Montessori," Winhold said enthusiastically. "They should get more involved in getting information about children and how important it to understand the workings of a child before the age of six."

Winhold Montessori Schools, Inc. is located at 17700 Old Cutler Road. For more information, please call 305-253-3225.