Self-directed work
Children choose from purposeful activities and practice independence, concentration, order, and responsibility through their own effort.
The Montessori method at IMS.
Children ages 3–9 choose purposeful work, practice at their own pace, and build academic, practical, and social skills in a carefully prepared Montessori environment.
Learning for a lifetimeChildren build the habits and confidence to keep learning beyond the classroom.
Choose
Practice
Master
Practice
Master
How children learn
Guided by curiosity. Supported with intention.
IMS combines self-directed activity with experienced adult guidance and a cooperative mixed-age classroom.
Individual progress
Each child receives attention, works at an appropriate pace, and moves forward as skills and understanding develop.
Mixed-age community
Older children reinforce learning by helping younger classmates while everyone practices cooperation in a non-competitive environment.
The prepared environment
Every material has a purpose.
The classroom is carefully constructed so children can move through a wide curriculum with specially designed materials. Learning happens across the room—from mathematics and language work to setting the table for a snack.
The Montessori Directress and classroom assistants offer instruction and help when needed, observe each child’s progress, and protect the focused work that makes independence possible.
Freedom to choose meaningful work within a prepared structure
Individualized attention and guidance from experienced adults
Hands-on repetition that turns understanding into confidence
A whole-child curriculum
Academic foundations meet practical life.
Children learn from every area of the classroom while developing the skills to care for themselves, their community, and their environment.
Practical & sensorial
Practical-life work supports coordination, care of self, and care of the environment. Sensorial materials sharpen observation and comparison.
Language & mathematics
Reading, writing, arithmetic, and other foundational academic skills are introduced through concrete materials during an absorbent stage of development.
Culture & social learning
Cultural education, shared work, and community participation help children understand different customs and work respectfully with others.
The complete approach
More about how Montessori learning works at IMS.
Open each topic for the fuller explanation preserved from the original IMS website.
01A lifetime of enjoyable learning
“My vision of the future is . . . of individuals passing from one stage of independence to a higher [one], by means of their own activity through their own effort of will, which constitutes the inner evolution of the individual.” - Maria Montessori
The Montessori method is a unique method of introducing children to a lifetime of enjoyable learning. From the time the child enters the school at age three, he/she begins to work through the curriculum.
Our unique program combines the Montessori method, established by Dr. Maria Montessori, with a wide array of subject preparation that provides children with essential academic and social skills. The Montessori method encourages self-directed learning in a carefully constructed environment, which is designed to facilitate the cultivation of a variety of skills through specially designed materials. In this respect, the child is learning something in every area of the classroom, whether they are using multiple chains or setting the table for an afternoon snack.
02Guidance, mixed ages, and independence
The Montessori Directress and classroom assistants are always present to offer instruction or help when needed and to ensure that the children are progressing with their education. The mixed-age Montessori classroom also allows older children to reinforce what they have learned by helping younger children. This cooperative and non-competitive learning environment facilitates children working together at an early age towards concrete goals that benefit both personal and collective education. At the same time, every child receives individualized attention, is able to develop at his/her own pace, and practices independence through the choice of his/her activities at any given time.
03Responsibility, life skills, and the wider community
At IMS, children are imbued with a strong sense of responsibility and appreciation of educational achievement, developing a good work ethic, and a genuine enjoyment of learning. The Montessori classroom is designed to teach children how to learn from their environment, which carries over long after students graduate. Additionally, a well-developed curriculum ensures that every child learns fundamental academic skills (including reading, writing, and arithmetic) at an age when their mind is able to absorb abundant amounts of information.
Other areas of focus in the classroom provide the children with more general life and social skills. For instance, practical life exercises promote the development of physical coordination, care for oneself, and care for one’s environment. Sensorial materials help to cultivate a child’s five senses and the general ability to recognize similarities and discern differences. Cultural education is also an essential part of adjusting to different environments and being able to work with individuals who may have different habits or customs.
With an emphasis on real-world learning that extends beyond the classroom, children are also exposed to the technical knowledge of older members of the IMS community. Parents with interests ranging from karate to robotics routinely volunteer to teach the children about their own areas of expertise. For more information on what makes IMS different, including our emphasis on cultural diversity, our track record, and our specific programs, please browse through the rest of our website and schedule a visit!
Parent questions
What families often ask.
Clear answers about purposeful work, prepared classrooms, mixed-age learning, and experienced guidance at IMS.
Q1How does the Montessori method work at IMS?
Children choose purposeful work within a carefully prepared classroom, practice at an appropriate pace, and receive instruction and guidance from the Montessori Directress and classroom assistants.
Q2What is a prepared Montessori environment?
It is an orderly classroom with accessible, specially designed materials that support hands-on learning across practical life, sensorial work, language, mathematics, science, geography, and culture.
Q3How do mixed-age classrooms support learning?
Older children reinforce their learning by helping younger classmates, while younger children learn by observing peers in a cooperative, non-competitive community.
Q4What is the teacher’s role in a Montessori classroom?
The Montessori Directress and classroom assistants observe each child, introduce materials, offer help when needed, and protect the focused work that supports independence.
See the Montessori approach in action.
Visit IMS to experience the prepared environment, purposeful materials, and calm rhythm of a working classroom.