The Montessori Philosophy
At the heart of Montessori education is a simple, yet powerful idea developed by Dr. Maria Montessori: children learn best in an environment that nurtures their individuality while fostering a sense of community.
Montessori takes a “whole child” approach, focusing on social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. The goal is to help each child discover their fullest potential—not only in academics, but in life.
In a Montessori classroom, carefully designed materials and activities encourage hands-on exploration and independent learning. Each child progresses at their own pace, moving from simple to more complex tasks as their curiosity guides them. In doing so, they experience the joy of discovery and develop a lifelong love of learning.
Teachers play a unique role as guides and mentors. They thoughtfully prepare the learning environment, introduce new challenges, and support each child’s journey while allowing the child’s own motivation and interests to lead the way.
A Montessori education empowers children to become confident, independent learners with strong academic foundations. More importantly, it cultivates curiosity, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the world around them, qualities that last a lifetime.
The Montessori Classroom:
Each Montessori classroom is thoughtfully organized into distinct areas of learning: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, and Culture. This carefully prepared environment nurtures a child’s independence while fueling their natural curiosity and love of learning.
Educational materials are displayed on low, child-friendly shelves, making them both accessible and visually engaging. The materials are arranged in a clear sequence—from simple to more advanced—allowing each child to choose activities that match their individual stage of development. In this way, the classroom becomes a space where children confidently explore, learn, and grow at their own pace.
Practical Life
The activities in Practical Life serve as a bridge between home and school for young children. The work the child begins in Practical Life enhances sensorimotor coordination, teaches the child organizational skills, and serves as the foundation for work they will perform in other areas in the Montessori environment.
Sensorial
The Sensorial area expands the skills which were initiated through the Practical Life exercises. Sensorial activities enhance the child’s perceptual abilities, tactile, visual and auditory discrimination, and the ability to compare and classify all powers necessary for written language. Muscular control is further refined in preparation for writing movements and holding a pencil. The child’s practice with the sensorial materials serves as a preparation for more abstract work in language and mathematics.
Languages (English and Armenian)
The development of the spoken language is encouraged through freedom of conversation. The freedom of conversation, of self-expression and communication, child to child in the Montessori class, helps development of language. The children engage in activities which help them to read phonetically. An appreciation for language is also encouraged through reading and writing stories.
Mathematics
Mathematics begins with an awareness of spatial, temporal, and numerical patterns and relationships that exist in the natural world. An integration of practical and abstract work in arithmetic, problem-solving and algebra provides a solid foundation from which children can advance to more complex work in mathematics.
Science
Science as an exacting field on knowledge is presented through an integration of classroom study, research, and experimentation, encouraging the student’s desire for discovery. The science curriculum covers selected aspects of physical, earth, and biological sciences and provides supplementary laboratory experiences.
Social Studies
The Social Studies program explores the geographic, social and economic aspects of the world. The children gain new insights into their communities and connections to the larger world. Literature, biographies, and lessons about real families introduce young learners to people and events in other times and places.
Armenian
In keeping with the mission of the Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception to preserve and perpetuate the Armenian identity, students are immersed in Armenian conversation, reading, writing, grammar, spelling, penmanship, and singing. They explore Armenian history, poetry, and literature and participate in the celebration of cultural events.