Letter from the Director

When my first son was a toddler, I began to worry about how to teach him and nurture him. Then, somehow I got a hold of some information about the Montessori Method and went to see a Montessori class in session. I remember that they used the Montessori color beads for counting and a globe of the world to teach countries and other geography. I was very impressed that the children understood everything. I was certain that if I would use this approach to teach my own child, this would be the best way for him to learn and develop. This was a major turning point for me thirty eight years ago and I have never turned back.

After this experience, I almost immediately received Montessori training and trained what my two boys in the Montessori school that I started very soon after this. To give a sense of the value I increasingly found in Montessori, I could tell many stories but two are enough for now.

First, I have a memory of my oldest son, after he had worked with the World map in class and learned the seven continents. My son was two-and-a-half years old at the time. We were at home and I was preparing rice. He was playing with a plate of uncooked rice, drawing letters of the alphabet and making different shapes with his fingers. Suddenly, he stopped and said, “Mommy, this is Australia.” And indeed it was.

The second story took place later when I visited Montessori schools in several European countries. I still remember the strong impression I got in a school in London where I received some Montessori training. This Montessori teacher trainer was presenting the binomial cube to us. She showed us how each prism of the binomial cube matches each part of the binomial formula. It was so clear and so tangible that I was very surprised. This concrete prism breakdown is first presented to three-to-six-year-old Montessori children. And then, later in the elementary level, the formula is brought in to match what the children already understand clearly in a physical way. The children love it. In a sense, these stories do really stand out as exceptional. Any Montessori teacher or parent could tell comparable things but what does stand out is the joy and excitement that come with both discovery and such a brilliantly conceived methodology.

I have since had years of experience with Montessori both on the preschool and elementary levels. Though I started out with a strong affirmation of the Montessori approach, after these decades of working with it, I can only say my belief and confidence in it has only build steadily stronger.

So because of my own experience, I gladly and openly invite you to bring your children to benefit from this wonderful educational approach. We also bring many more things to the table but this is close to the heart of it. 

Karis Larson