Programs
The Montessori method is named for Dr. Maria Montessori, the first female doctor in Italy, who devoted her adult life to the observation and study of children. Rather than "teaching" a child concepts, the Montessori environment is designed to stimulate the child's interest and facilitate his/her understanding and learning capacities.
LAMB’s Montessori dual language immersion classroom is a child-size world. The entire environment supports the child’s work-learning. There are two teachers in each classroom, one Spanish language dominant and one English language dominant. The Montessori teacher is there to guide and assist in classroom activity.
The classrooms are organized into practical life, sensorial, and academic areas. LAMB’s Montessori educational philosophy, developmental materials and learning and teaching techniques provide the environment that research indicates is best suited to a dual language immersion approach.
Beginning with preschool, LAMB offers:
- An environment rich in developmentally appropriate experiences: practical life, sensorial, language, math, art, music, cultural areas, movement;
- High oral proficiency in the first language: conversational interactions, vocabulary enrichment activities, children’s literature, group activities;
- First language beginning literacy skills: sound analysis games, sandpaper letters, movable alphabet, reading object boxes, secret messages, cards, sequenced reading materials;
- Intensive oral development in the second language: small group lessons in content areas, giving second language vocabulary for concepts already established in first language, balanced use of both languages for line activities, grace and courtesy, and non-instructional purposes;
- Readiness for second language literacy: news period, question games, sandpaper letters, story-telling;
- A multicultural focus: integration through practical life, sensorial, math, cultural areas, arts and crafts, music, food preparation activities
- A special strength of LAMB’s Montessori dual language immersion approach is that the three-year cycle (ages 3 – 6; 6 -9; and 9-12) provides ample time for thorough second-language acquisition, at both the social and the academic levels.