Olivia's Montessori Pre-School
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    • Summer Program
  • What is Montessori
    • Montessori Framework
    • Maria Montessori
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    • A Note to Parents
    • How Children Learn to Read
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  • About Us
  • Programs
    • Summer Program
  • What is Montessori
    • Montessori Framework
    • Maria Montessori
  • Resources
    • A Note to Parents
    • How Children Learn to Read
  • Admissions
  • Contact Us
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THE SATISFACTION WHICH THEY FIND THEIR WORK HAS GIVEN THEM A GRACE AND EASE LIKE THAT WHICH COMES FROM MUSIC."

- MARIA MONTESSORI

WHO WAS MARIA MONTESSORI?

Maria Montessori was born on August 31, 1870, in the provincial town of Chiaravalle, Italy. Her father was a financial manager for a state-run industry. Her mother was raised in a family that prized education. She was well-schooled and an avid reader — unusual for Italian women of that time. The same thirst for knowledge took root in young Maria, and she immersed herself in many fields of study before creating the educational method that bears her name.

Maria grew up in Rome, surrounded by a paradise of libraries, museums, and fine schools.  She continued on to become the first female medical doctor in Italy, an Italian physician, educator, and innovator - acclaimed for her educational method that builds on the way children naturally learn. As a research project, she studied children in a mental asylum to observe how and if they could be stimulated to learn. Through intense observation and the contribution of two other doctors, Dr. Jean Itard and Edouard Seguin, they developed teaching apparatus that stimulated the patients. The results were astounding!

Maria's next move was to apply her method to children living in the impoverished San Lorenzo District near Rome. She opened the first Montessori school—the Casa dei Bambini, or Children’s House—in Rome on January 6, 1907, accepting 60 children aged 3-kindergarten. Again, the results were extraordinary and she received world wide acclaim. Subsequently, she traveled the world and wrote extensively about her approach to education, attracting many devotees. There are now more than 22,000 Montessori schools in at least 110 countries worldwide.

The first American Montessori Society was founded in 1914. The president of the AMS was none other than Alexander Graham Bell. Montessori was a guest of the Thomas Edison family while the AMS was founded. The secretary was Margaret Wilson (Woodrow Wilson's daughter). McClure of McClure's magazine asked Maria to come to this country to teach. He lured her by offering her the school of her dreams. She declined and traveled around the world teaching her method. She died in 1952 and today there are Montessori schools on every continent.
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Maria Montessori, 1913

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Maria Montessori, 1949

More About Maria Montessori & Her Vision

Breaking Barriers 
Maria was a sterling student, confident, ambitious, and unwilling to be limited by traditional expectations for women. At age 13 she entered an all-boys technical institute to prepare for a career in engineering.

In time, however, she changed her mind, deciding to become a doctor instead. She applied to the University of Rome’s medical program, but was rejected. Maria took additional courses to better prepare her for entrance to the medical school and persevered. With great effort she gained admittance, opening the door a bit wider for future women in the field.

When she graduated from medical school in 1896, she was among Italy’s first female physicians.

Birth of a Movement 
Maria’s early medical practice focused on psychiatry. She also developed an interest in education, attending classes on pedagogy and immersing herself in educational theory. Her studies led her to observe, and call into question, the prevailing methods of teaching children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The opportunity to improve on these methods came in 1900, when she was appointed
co-director of a new training institute for special education teachers. Maria approached the task scientifically, carefully observing and experimenting to learn which teaching methods worked best. Many of the children made unexpected gains, and the program was proclaimed a success.

In 1907 Maria accepted a new challenge to open a childcare center in a poor inner-city district. This became the first Casa dei Bambini, a quality learning environment for young children. The youngsters were unruly at first, but soon showed great interest in working with puzzles, learning to prepare meals, and manipulating materials that held lessons in math. She observed how they absorbed knowledge from their surroundings, essentially teaching themselves.

Utilizing scientific observation and experience gained from her earlier work with young children, Maria designed learning materials and a classroom environment that fostered the children’s natural desire to learn. News of the school’s success soon spread through Italy and by 1910 Montessori schools were acclaimed worldwide.

Innovator, Feminist, Idealist
In the years following, and for the rest of her life, Maria dedicated herself to advancing her child-centered approach to education. She lectured widely, wrote articles and books, and developed a program to prepare teachers in the Montessori Method. Through her efforts and the work of her followers, Montessori education was adopted worldwide.

As a public figure, Maria also campaigned vigorously on behalf of women’s rights. She wrote and spoke frequently on the need for greater opportunities for women, and was recognized in Italy and beyond as a leading feminist voice.

Maria Montessori pursued her ideals in turbulent times. Living through war and political upheaval inspired her to add peace education to the Montessori curriculum. But she could do little to avoid being ensnared in world events. Traveling in India in 1940 when hostilities between Italy and Great Britain broke out, she was forced to live in exile for the remainder of the war. There she took the opportunity to train teachers in her method.

At war’s end she returned to Europe, spending her final years in Amsterdam. She died peacefully, in a friend’s garden, on May 6, 1952.

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Olivia's Montessori Pre-School
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What our parents are saying...

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My son attended the summer program at Olivia's Montessori Pre-School several years ago. The environment of the school had a profound and lasting positive impression on him that helped pave the way to being added to the Honor Roll. It's been five years and the positive impact of having our son in Olivia's school continues. The staff of Olivia's Montessori Pre-School exceed expectations in every way.

Glenn H.

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My review is as a fellow teacher who has observed Olivia's Montessori Pre-School on several occasions, and as a mother who has had her children (now grown) enrolled in other Montessori Schools. I wish Olivia's Montessori had been available for them when they were pre-schoolers, especially my older child…The school environment is organized with the children first and foremost in design. The teachers are focused, well versed in the Montessori method, and quite creative. It is obvious that the children feel comfortable, happy, and engaged with each other, the staff, and the learning experience. I have never met a teacher more devoted to her school and her students than Olivia. 

Debra B.

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…This place is more than a day care, it's a school. She teaches your children how to be independent and how to learn so they will be better prepared when they go to 'big kids' school. Many of the other parents we met have older children who went through the program and talked about how well their kids did when they transitioned and how they were often ahead of the other kids in their new schools. 

Pamela B.

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Very good school - both my daughters went there. It's an environment that encourages empathy and self-efficacy. Structured yet flexible. A very welcoming community. Schedule a tour - you'll be impressed.

Sarah H.

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This preschool changed my outlook on the world and gave our family a wonderful start to what we should expect from the education process…

Jennifer S.

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Our family travels to Memphis in the Summer and my son cannot wait to get to Olivia's! The facility is shady and gorgeous. We are nature enthusiasts and we love the grounds. My son loves the science experiments, outdoor sensorial play and is always happy to be going there.

Eva H.

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…The owner is good with kids and has a LOT of experience with Montessori teaching. Her policies seem strict at first, but are worth it for the great learning experience the kids get…A lot of thinking goes into the curriculum. The classroom environment is peaceful and respectful and emphasizes self-efficacy…  

Sarah B.

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I've had three children attend Olivia's. They are the 8th, 9th, and 10th children in my family (followed by the 11th, and most likely 12th) to attend the school. If you are looking for a place that enables children to become independent while also developing a true love of learning, you must schedule a tour…

Jennifer S.

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Enrolling my kids in this preschool was one of the best parenting decisions I have ever made. My kids have excelled at Olivia's Montessori academically and socially. Each of my children have very distinct personalities, fortunately the Montessori emphasis on individual learning styles allowed both of them to thrive…

Andrea V.

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As good as it gets - my brother and I attended Olivia's, structured establishment that provided me with the tools and skills as a young child to make it through life in all aspects.

Rob M.

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My daughter has severe learning disabilities which makes Montessori and excellent choice. While enrolled at Olivia's, she absolutely thrived!! The curriculum was tailored to her needs and her teachers gave her the structure she needed. As with any child, rules are just as necessary as one-on-one attention. Nobody understands this more than Ms. Olivia. I'm certain my daughter would never be the student she is today without this wonderful school!!

Millie H.

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I know Olivia personally and have never encountered someone with such a genuine passion for her students. The school itself is beautiful! The teachers are hand selected to ensure the students' education and happiness are first and foremost. She is incredibly creative and engaging while maintaining a structured environment that children require to flourish with confidence…

Elizabeth M.

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Both of my children were blessed to be students of Olivia's.  She became a part of our family and a wonderful friend to me. They are now 26 and 29 years old and still think of her as the teacher who helped shape their lives.  Oh, and she still talks to them. Wow, I LOVE this school!!! 

Martha L.

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I was a student at Olivia's two decades ago. The staff's attention and care was unparalleled--students were given latitude to learn and teach with the perfect amount of supervision and guidance from mentors. The brilliance of the methods at this school are amazing…I've made it to NYC at a global consultancy, and I can attribute much of my socialization and worldliness to beginning with my time at Olivia's. She is truly an amazing Memphis gem, and anyone would be remiss to not consider sending their child(ren) there.

Joseph C.

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My daughter started at Olivia's Montessori in Jan 2013 at 3.5 years old.  A year later, she has learned Spanish, Chinese, French, counts to 100, knows shapes, colors, political leaders in the US, and so much more.  The class does a great deal of hands-on learning so she doesn't sit in a room listening about recycling but bringing in recycle items, creating vases, visit a recycle center…

Nikki G.

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We are in our 3rd and final year at Olivia's. I'm so grateful to have found such an amazing program. My daughter has been exposed to three different languages throughout the years thanks to the wonderful parent body and owner's mom. The staff has always been open and kind.  Our experience at Olivia's has been wonderful. If I could get away with it, I would have my daughter repeat kindergarten so that we could stay!

Erica A.

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Back in the early 1990s, I was one of the first groups of students at Olivia's. The foundation I gained at this preschool helped me find my confidence that was necessary to succeed throughout schooling. Now as a college graduate with a master's degree, I teach middle school and I wish some of my students could go back in time to OMP to give them the foundation I had…You'd have a hard time finding the great family-like atmosphere anywhere else in Memphis. Even after 15-20 years, when I see Miss Olivia, she still remembers me and can share specific stories from when I was in preschool. The school cares about the individual to the highest degree. If I'm still in Memphis when I have kids, they will without a doubt attend OMP.

Lauren H.

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Wouldn't dream of sending my child anywhere else. Extremely professional teachers who truly respect children and want to see each child succeed. The skills my kindergartner has mastered are far ahead of the curve compared to peers at other schools…I'm amazed every day when my child shows me a new skill she's learned at this school. Who wouldn't be impressed when a three year old recites all of the continents and points them out on a map?

Jodi H.

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If you are looking for a daycare, this is not the place for you. If you want a true preschool with a nurturing and educational environment, this is the place to go. All 3 of my children have attended OMS. They come home talking about the planets, various countries, reading, and doing advanced math. The best part is that they go outside and are able to explore and learn on their own. This school goes above and beyond any typical preschool. The staff is nurturing and loving. Olivia has lots of rules but they are for the safety of the children and for organization…

Brandi B.

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Olivia's is an excellent preschool!  My 8 year old son who is on the autism spectrum attended her summer day camp last year and thrived.  My stepdaughter attends the preschool during the school year as well.  She loves school and is learning so much.  The teachers are warm and loving and encourage the children to become self-led learners. And what I find to be one of the most wonder aspects of having a student at Olivia's is the effort that goes info building a community of families.  It is really a wonderful place!!

Kathy K.

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Olivia's Montessori School is giving our son the best foundation for his lifelong education. He attended a much larger private preschool at age 3, cried in the mornings on our way to school and never smiled at his former teacher when each day began. We then toured five different preschools to find a better fit for him. Olivia's was the last stop on our list, and we fell in love with her. He began attending OMS at age 4, and now he tells us without any prompting, "Mommy I love my school"..."I hope we have school today." His curiosity and love of learning have blossomed here, and he is developing a stronger sense of responsibility towards others…

Kate M.

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Both of my sons went to Olivia's until their kindergarten year. I feel like Ms. Flasdick prepared them for life. They learned how to clean up after themselves, how to look at people's eyes and say thank you when they received something, they learned grace and courtesy, tolerance, value of hard work, be patient, be kind to others etc. My older son is in college now. He still talks about his years he spent there and goes to visit Ms. Flasdick. She is an excellent teacher, child advocate, always thinks in term of child's benefit. Every decision, rules, procedures are made based on students’ needs and well beings…

Gulcan D.

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CONTACT US
Copyright © 2018 Olivia's Montessori Pre-School 
  • About Us
  • Programs
    • Summer Program
  • What is Montessori
    • Montessori Framework
    • Maria Montessori
  • Resources
    • A Note to Parents
    • How Children Learn to Read
  • Admissions
  • Contact Us