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.

Rather than teaching the child concepts, the Montessori environment is designed to stimulate children’s interest, simplify their understanding and enhance their learning capabilities, with the directress acting as a guide or facilitator. Children age 2½, 3, 4, 5 and 6 participate together in the same classroom. Our Montessori credentialed directress has been trained in the Montessori philosophy and in the purposeful and specific use of Montessori materials.

The Montessori directress organizes 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 a music specialist weekly, and Montessori Kindergarteners also enjoy time with a Spanish specialist.

Ideally, children should remain in the Montessori program for three to four years. To complete the Montessori program, we encourage five-year-olds to complete their kindergarten year in the Montessori class at Village Green.

Assessments

Assessments are ongoing within the Montessori classroom and our experienced Directress adjusts her lessons based on the knowledge she gains by working with the children. She will contact parents throughout the year if she has concerns about how a given child is progressing towards targeted skills.

Three times a year, in November, January, and June, the Directress holds a conference with the parents and the child to communicate and demonstrate a summary of how the child is progressing.

Class Offerings