Montessori School of Chevy Chase, DC

The Montessori School of Chevy Chase was founded in 1999 and serves approximately 60 children from many diverse cultures and backgrounds each year. Our school enjoys a reputation for academic excellence and active parent involvement. Our founder/director of the school, Marlene Cherry, holds an AMI Primary Montessori Diploma, a Masters Degree in Montessori Education and a BS in Education. All teachers are Montessori certified and take ongoing classes to further their education. The Montessori School of Chevy Chase is a member of the International Montessori Council and the American Montessori Society. Overview Montessori is an educational approach focusing on independence, respect for a child’s natural development, and freedom (within limits). It is founded on the premise that while children develop in different ways and at different rates, they do so in a defined sequence. The Montessori approach holds that young children have a natural drive to understand the world around them and they can best learn through self-teaching in carefully prepared environments, under the guidance of a caring teacher. Montessori Teachers Montessori teachers help individual children find challenges appropriate for their skill level. While traditional teachers tend to act as leaders and organizers, Montessori teachers serve more as a guides and facilitators. It is their job to provide positive reinforcement and steer children towards challenging activities while respecting their freedom of choice. Montessori Classrooms Classrooms in Montessori schools are specially designed to spark curiosity, minimize unnecessary failure and promote feelings of joy when achievement occurs. Children start by focusing on concrete and manipulative tasks then shift to more abstract tasks as knowledge and proficiency increase. In a Montessori classroom, the goal is to stimulate the desire for self exploration and understanding. Our Program Child The Montessori School of Chevy Chase provides quality learning and growth opportunities for children between the ages of 18 months and 6 years old. All of our programs fully embrace the Montessori method of teaching which includes an emphasis on self-directed learning, mixed age group classrooms and building independence & confidence.