Children are exposed to language, pre-reading, reading, math, geography, art, science, grace and courtesy, care of the environment and respect for themselves and their environment. We would be delighted to have you come and observe our school.

Maria Montessori, born in 1870, was the founder of the Montessori method. She was the first female medical doctor in Italy. 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 aparatus 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 Casa dei Bambini - The Children's House. She accepted 60 children aged 3-kindergarten. Again, the results were extraordinary and she received world wide acclaim.

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. I have been a certified Montessori teacher since 1987.

The site of O.M.P. sits on 1.7 wooded acres with 2 playgrounds. Our classroom is beautiful! It is stocked with Montessori materials, has a hard wood floor and windows all around. The renovated garage, called the Lagniappe Building, is stocked with manipulatives and an impressive array of movement activities.

Come see for yourself! I look forward to meeting you.

Sincerely,

Olivia Flasdick
Directress of Olivia's Montessori Preschool