Chesapeake Montessori School

Maria Montessori envisioned education for the elementary child as holistic, purposeful, and comprehensive. She saw the goal of education as the development of a complete human being, oriented to the environment, and adapted to his or her time, place, and culture.

All Montessori programs are of mixed ages of three to four years. Children learn from one another and become a part of a community with younger and older children as well as peers. Children learn to care for and help one another. Children learn in individual ways and at their own pace. The Montessori teacher is a trained observer who will guide each child’s progress in the classroom. Classroom activities will include individual lessons, small group lessons and whole class lessons. Children acquire self-discipline through learning to make choices in their work, learning to plan and manage their school day, and having the opportunity to become deeply involved in their activities. Freedom and responsibility are both developed through purposeful work chosen by the child. Each environment provides appropriate freedom and appropriate limits to ensure a peaceful and busy environment. Montessori classrooms are prepared environments equipped with specially designed materials to aid the child in acquisition or refinement of skills, to allow exploration of concept, and to make abstract concepts real through work of the hand. Montessori classrooms foster a sense of community appropriate to the age of the child. This sense of community grows into understanding of others, a sense of belonging, and a desire to offer help and encouragement to others. Older children are encouraged to apply this sense of purpose to the wider community through service projects.

Prekindergarten, Kindergarten