The Montessori Method of education is unique in its approach to learning.

Dr. Maria Montessori was Italy’s first female medical doctor. Using her scientific background, she observed tenement children in Rome. Based on her observations, she developed materials, created a child-centered environment, and helped revolutionize educational thought. She stressed respect for the child, freedom of expression, self-education, and training by using movement and the senses.

The Montessori environment is designed to stimulate children’s interest, simplify their understanding and enhance their learning capabilities, with the teacher acting as a guide or facilitator. Children aged 2½ to 6 participate in the program. Our Montessori credentialed facilitators have been trained in the Montessori philosophy and in the purposeful and specific use of Montessori materials.  They organize the learning environment into five main work areas:

• Practical Life: activities in daily living
  
• Sensorial: exercises in size, shape, color, discrimination
  
• Mathematics: exercises that cultivate understanding of basic mathematical concepts
  
• Language: activities that encourage language development and lead to reading and writing
  
• Science and Geography: activities that allow exploration of nature and the environment and cultivate awareness of cultural differences while learning the continents

All the Montessori children enjoy time with library, fitness, music and art specialists weekly.  The Montessori Kindergarteners participate in all specials, including French, with their peers in the Traditional Kindergarten Class.

Choosing the Montessori method for your child's preschool years involves the understanding that in order to reap the learning benefits of the Montessori pedagogical program, the child should complete the three to four year designed curriculum, culminating in the Kindergarten program.

Assessments

Assessments are ongoing within the classroom and our experienced teachers adjust their lessons at the whole group level, and at the individual level, based on the knowledge they gain by working with the children.  Teachers contact parents throughout the year if they have concerns about how a given child is progressing towards targeted skills. 

Three times a year, in November, January, and June, the teachers hold a conference with the parents to communicate a summary of how the child is progressing.  During the January conference, the teacher will also recommend a developmentally appropriate program for the child for the following year.

Class Offerings