Immersion & Montessori
The Montessori approach was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, Italian scientist and educator, in the early 1900s and has been implemented in schools worldwide. The Montessori approach is founded on a deep respect for children and their ability to blossom into knowledgeable, curious, competent members of society through individualized support and guidance from well-trained teachers in a prepared environment. A Montessori education aligns children’s developmental, emotional, cognitive and social needs to specific experiences and materials designed to promote self-motivated, independent learners. Because the environment is prepared to meet their developmental needs and to capitalize on their tendencies and interest, they discover and subsequently acquire the academic skills and knowledge they need to build a strong foundation in the basics while also developing social skills and personal characteristics that will be invaluable to them as they navigate new experiences.
Our primary classes are called “Children’s House” in English or Er Tong Zhi Jia, La Maison des Enfants, La Casa de los Niños in the languages of the classrooms. The primary program welcomes children who are from 3 years old to 5 years old at the beginning of the school year.
Learn more about the primary curriculum here.
Our elementary classes are for students 6 years old to 11 years old in the fall. Students typically come to the elementary classes from our primary program and occasionally from other programs or settings in which they have had exposure to the target language.
Learn more about our elementary program here.
What Our Parents Say
I have watched my children flourish under the leadership, care, and devotion of the outstanding teachers at IMS from primary school to Upper Elementary. Each has grown emotionally, academically and in personal will and fortitude as it relates to school work, classroom projects and other endeavors. They love going to school each morning and are thriving in a myriad of ways. The teachers at IMS model exemplary behavior and serve as strong role models. My children have a firm grasp of reading and writing in two languages; my eldest child is thrilled to have begun lessons in the third language. Additionally, they are cultivating a profound interest and understanding of mathematics and science. I have visited all the wonderful schools in the area and I cannot envision a more ideal institution dedicated to academic excellence, personal growth, compassion; not to mention a commitment to developing leaders, critical thinkers, and stewards of the world.