Imagine a historic church tucked away in a rural setting surrounded by woods so unspoiled that the wild deer often peek through the windows. Inside the nearby school, a small group of children are learning about the world around them in a classroom specifically designed to nurture their innate desire to learn. A smiling teacher is encouraging a young child as she arranges small stack of letter blocks into her first words. Across the room, an assistant watches as a five-year-old boy teaches a three-

year-old friend about the different kinds of shapes.watches as a five-year-old boy teaches a three-year-old friend about the different kinds of shapes.
The room itself is arranged into stations, specializing in mathematics, culture, and reading. Bright colors and tactile contours invite the classmates to explore different lessons at their own pace. There are no standardized tests and no desks in this room, and the children respond, in turn, by learning without any borders or limits.
This is the scene at St. Andrew’s Montessori School in Mount Vernon, a brand new preschool which uses the methods of renowned education specialist Dr. Maria Montessori.
Dr. Montessori’s method, to develop the whole child as a physical, social, emotional and cognitive being, has been tested in diverse cultures throughout the world for more than a century. She discovered that because

children are naturally eager consumers of knowledge an environment that fosters their desire to learn can greatly accelerate their development. At St. Andrew’s, classrooms are set up at a child’s eye level with sequentially arranged lessons arranged in ways which allow the child to learn at their own pace. Students in Montessori environments develop essential skills like autonomy, creative thinking and satisfaction in a job well done. A learning triangle is created between the child, teacher and their environment. Independence within the established order of the classroom teaches responsibility and helps children develop into engaged and respectful citizens.
The multi-age classroom (children 3-5) recreates a family structure, allowing older children to refine their lessons as they become role models and mentors for younger children, who in turn feel supported and gain confidence. This kind of collaborative learning is an essential part of the 21st century experience in which we work regularly through diverse networks of people with greatly varying skill sets.
The school is located on the pristine grounds of the historic Grace Church in Mount Vernon, conveniently located just 15 minutes from Salisbury and accessible to Wallop’s Island.