The Fort Worth Montessori School is a unique private preschool with Montessori certified teachers and a multitude of programs; music programs, a summer program, a lunch program, parent breakfasts, family picnics, Chinese class, Spanish class, Computer Enrichment class, Karate, Monkeynastix class, Cultural Day, weekly school communication via email, professional photographer twice a year and so many more.
The Fort Worth Montessori also understands the needs of our families. We have 2 different schedules for our families. We have Schedule A which utilizes most of the calendar year for open days. We then have Schedule B which gives time off for the holidays, spring break, etc. You can pick the schedule that works best for you!
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Our infant classes |
Our toddler class |
Our primary classes |
The Fort Worth Montessori School understands how difficult it is to find a place where a parent can trust, feel comfortable and know their little ones are safe and truly loved. We simply love children and want to give them an environment they love being a part of. Our staff are dedicated to loving your little ones and helping them reach their potential. Enrolling only a few infants in our program allows us to give each child the love and attention they need, just as if they were at home. Trusting your little one with someone is a tough decision but allowing us to take care of your precious, little one will gives us great joy! The Montessori philosophy is an outstanding opportunity and starting off at such a young age prepares them even more for their pre-school years.
Understanding each child is unique and has their own schedule/routine, the Fort Worth Montessori School Infant program is committed to promoting quality Montessori infant care for children from six weeks to eighteen months based on these concepts:
- To foster the development of basic trust and to assist in the normal development of the child's personality.
- Basic trust will develop due to our staff responding appropriately to the infant's needs to feel loved, respected, and accepted.
- Infants learn by using their senses through watching and moving freely. Freedom to move is essential to the development of the infant's potential. Having such a low number of children allows the infants to move around to their hearts content.
- The infant is considered as a whole person and is affected by the quality of their environment.
- Learning, which leads to independence, occurs when infants participate in their daily routines of care which includes a daily report to help families know how their little ones day went, what items they worked on, their feeding, sleeping and diaper routine and what milestones they've accomplished
When a baby starts to crawl, they are considered mobile. When a baby is considered mobile the ratio can change from a 2:1 to a 3:1 which is the same ratio for the Infant II category. The price will change at 12 months of age considering each child is different and will crawl and walk at different stages of their own personal development. When the ratio is 3:1 the assistant can have 2 mobile infants and 1 non-mobile infant. An assistant will not have 2 non-mobile and 1 mobile infant due to wanting to keep the ratio at a 2:1 with our non-mobile infants. During the natural transitions of the day and/or unexpected situations the assistants may be out of ratio for a short amount of time. We do everything we can to avoid this but sometimes does happen. The reason there is a change in price at 12 months is due to a majority of children are mobile by 12 months of age. We will not change the price of your monthly cost due to your little one crawling at 8 months of age. Not until your little one is 12 months will your tuition price change and then again at 18 months when they are considered a toddler.
We pride ourselves with having highly qualified care-givers thorughout out school especially our infant rooms. We do our best to make sure your infant has the same caregiver everyday they are here. Understanding that care-givers have families, school, etc we are sometimes unable to accomodate a child's schedule with the same care-giver every single day of each child's schedule. There may be 4 out of the 5 days that your child will have the same caregiver due to the caregiver having Friday's off. We try to match our babies schedules with our available caregivers but we can't fulfill every child's schedule. Some of our outstanding assistants have specific schedules and need to leave by 3 to pick up their own children from school or attend a class they are taking leaving your little one with the afternoon caregiver. We know how important it is for the growth and development of a child to have the same caregiver every single day so please understand that we cannot promise your caregiver will be with your child from 7:30 am to 6:30 Monday through Friday. We can promise your little one will get spoiled with love with the room full of care-givers who work with your child day in and day out. but we have to understand that we can't have a caregiver here 12 hours a day, 5 days a week to accomodate some of our parents schedules.
If I, Tsianina Beardsley the Director and Owner, could, I would have an assistant for every child. I love our families and the babies you bring into our care. I can promise you your babies will be loved, their schedules will be followed to the best of our ability and we will spoil your babies to our heart's content- just like you would like!
Our toddler class accommodates children from 18 months through the early 3 years. Our standard ratio is 1:6 with a lead teacher and an assistant. The Montessori environment is NOT your typical preschool program. It is ideally designed to provide a home-like area with specially constructed and tested furniture, materials and activities for a busy, active, verbally developing toddler.
Our toddler guides are AMS Certified meaning they have completed coursework, testing and a year internship. Most of our assistants have their bachelors in various degrees. We are a stepping stone for many assistants as they go off and teach in a local school district. We take great pride knowing our assistants have familiarized themselves with the Montessori curriculum and philosophy and when they move on they have enriched their lives with our philosophy and methods of discipline, classroom management and instruction. We hate to see them leave but we feel they are moving on with a vast amount of experience.
The teachers are specifically trained for this age group and the curriculum is constructed to anticipate and meet the sensitive periods of life. While providing a structured, familiar environment, the needs of individual children are met. The structure of the curriculum is based on four developmental areas:
1) Sensory and Perception -- Young children absorb the world through the five senses and a rich environment is prepared for the child to explore. Water, textures, sounds, etc. are explored through feeling, listening, pouring, and constructing.
2) Physical and Motor -- The movement area includes large motor activities such as platform climbing, tumbling, and materials for eye-hand coordination, dexterity, digging, pulling, constructing, etc. Gross and fine motor skills develop rapidly at this age. Areas are arranged where children use materials to aid the development of large muscles, balance, coordination, equilibrium and strength. Another area has materials, which help children develop and refine small muscles and hand-eye coordination. Toddlers use these skills to develop the pincer grasp, flexibility, dexterity, and visual discrimination.
3) Self-Help Skills -- The Practical Life area includes materials necessary for real life activities and tasks familiar to children in the home. These activities help them care for themselves and their room. They wash tables, dust, sweep, mop, wash mirrors, wash clothes, hang clothes out to dry, fold and put away. They also set the tables, serve the snack, and wash up afterwards.
4) Language -- This area includes not only books (poetry, fiction and non-fiction), but art and music activities. The children have daily opportunities for stories, poems, rhymes, songs, and games. A small library is set up in the class. An appreciation of literature is fostered. Toddlers are extremely sensitive to language development. The construction of vocabulary and sentence structure is part of every aspect of the classroom from snack to manipulating a piece of material to group activities. Specific language materials help the children increase and enrich their vocabularies. Adults speak softly, clearly, and precisely, using correct grammar and sentence structures.
Cultural Program
Every November we celebrate Cultural Day where each classroom concentrates on one specific country. During the month they learn new songs, vocabulary, projects, traditions and the culture of the country. On our final day, before Fall Break, we invite all of the families out to have a cultural feast based upon the country they studied. The families, students and staff have a great time enjoying delicious foods, hearing their children sing new songs and games.
Music Program
Both Toddler and Primary students enjoy learning about making music with rhythm instruments, movement and singing each week. Music combined with fun creates a unique experience for early childhood development. Our music teacher visits each classroom to enhance upon the music skills that have been introduced in the classroom and work on other aspects of music. The music teacher prepares all of the children for our Holiday progam, Spring program and graduation. Every year we have to hold our programs at a local private school due to having 200-300 people in attendance. The children work very hard and watching them perform on stage is such a wonderful experience for all of the families to enjoy!
The primary classrooms offer children a special place designed to encourage curiosity and cultivate their natural desire to learn. Our standard ratio is 1:7 with a lead teacher and an assistant. Our primary guides are all AMS and CME certified meaning they have completed coursework, testing and an internship. Most of our assistants have their bachelors in various degrees. We are a stepping stone for many assistants as they go off and teach in a local school district. We take great pride knowing our assistants have familiarized themselves with the Montessori curriculum and philosophy and when they move on they have enriched their lives with our philosophy and methods of discipline, classroom management and instruction. We hate to see them leave but we feel they are moving on with a vast amount of experience.
Neither solemn nor chaotic, there are cheerful, stimulating areas where children are secure to develop at a pace unique and natural to each. There are open spaces, within which the children are urged to choose their own activities displayed on open shelves or in areas around the room. An emphasis on the feelings and rights of others, and on protocol of using and sharing classroom materials, contributes to children’s sense of self-discipline and control: skills that help them make constructive use of classroom time and freedom. As children develop social relationships, they learn to solve problems and understand other’s perspectives.
The only pre-established expectation of children is that they progress at a rate determined by their abilities and needs. Recognizing that children often learn best by helping one another, the Primary curriculum is not based on a set of rigid age-groupings, but rather on a constructive and mutually beneficial mix of older and younger children. As a result, their learning is enhanced by observing others and by teaching experiences that strengthen understanding and self-confidence.
The FWMS staff carefully observes each child to know when he or she is ready for new learning experiences. Thus, though learning is self-paced, it is not random. The teachers work with the children individually, in small groups, and as a whole class. Activities are given for hands-on use and presented visually and orally. The room allows children places to do things alone or in groups. There are quiet places and areas for greater activity.
The graduates of the Fort Worth Montessori School are well prepared to attend the local public and private schools. A majority of the graduates go off to attend Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth Country Day, Southwest Christian and other local public and private schools.
The classrooms are organized into specific areas and children have the freedom to move between them or choose materials from one particular area. Thus, a visitor might notice a group of children working together on a math exercise at the same table that others may be doing an art project, writing a story, or playing a game with color tablets.
Practical Life exercises gives children the chance to master everyday tasks, an important step toward building self-confidence. Meaningful tasks such as pouring, buttoning, polishing shoes, washing dishes, or paring vegetables give children opportunities to care for themselves as well as serve others. Good work habits are established as children learn the importance of completing a task, cleaning up, and returning the materials to the appropriate place, ready for others to use. Through these activities, fine motor skills are developed, attention span is extended, group cooperation skills are acquired, and children become aware of sequence and notice details.
Sensorial Exercises help children to distinguish, categorize, and relate new information to what they already know. Young children learn best when allowed to touch, feel, hold, smell, listen, and taste. Children experience the similarities and differences of size weight, texture, color, sounds, and other properties and are then encouraged to use these skills to explore their world.
Language Arts include oral language development, written expression, reading, creative dramatics, and children’s literature. Vocabulary is stimulated in every moment of classroom activity. Children are encouraged to participate during lessons, to ask and answer questions, tell stories, explain activities -- all of which helps them organize their ideas. Children acquire literacy through meaningful activities, opportunities to explore their environment, and a rich foundation. Direct lessons are given in meaningful and appropriate ways when children show readiness to extend their knowledge and abilities. We always welcome parents to visit our classrooms and read to the children during circle time.
Mathematics equipment is accessible to children so they can easily and joyfully assimilate concepts, operations, and numerical relationships. Children do not sit down and memorize abstract facts, but rather discover they know them when they apply math concepts to real life situations. Children also investigate two and three dimensional shapes, measurements, graphs, time and money as aspects of mathematics.
Cultural Programs expand the children’s concepts of the world around them. Art in the pre-school environment strives to maintain the great joy the child finds in creating something personal. The children have the freedom to explore their imaginations in a variety of mediums used for expression. The importance of the process is stressed, though projects are often integrated into all other curriculum areas for Extended Day children. Cooking and Nutrition projects help children learn about food groups and what their bodies need to be healthy in addition to measuring and counting concepts.
Every November we celebrate Cultural Day where each classroom concentrates on one specific country. During the month they learn new songs, vocabulary, projects, traditions and the culture of the country. On our final day, before Fall Break, we invite all of the families out to have a cultural feast based upon the country they studied. The families, students and staff have a great time enjoying delicious foods, hearing their children sing new songs and games.
On Cultural Day our children enjoyed making masks to celebrate the French culture, eating tacos to celebrate the Mexican culture and celebrating the Russian culture with apple cake, crackers and a garden of hard boiled eggs. The children worked hard on their special day and the parents truly enjoyed the activities!
Geography, History, and Economics help children learn about other people, places, times, animals, and basic needs and to appreciate their own place in the world. The children learn about the continents, traditions, cultures, oceans and a special tribute on Western Day in January to their home state of Texas.
In Science and Nature activities, the children’s natural curiosity is stimulated through discovery projects and experiments, helping them draw their own conclusions. The plant and animal kingdoms are explored to foster an appreciation for all living things and the uniqueness of all creation. Our school works with local Master Gardners who help us learn, create, plant and harvest our gardens.
Summer ProgramWe are open all year long but some of our students return just for the summer. We continue with our curriculum and monthly themes. In the summer we implement more outdoor experiences and a more relaxed routine. The students can have an enjoyable time working with many crafts, songs, games, and still be surrounded by the Montessori philosophy and materials. A separate enrollment form is required if a student will be joining us for only the summer.
Music ProgramInfant, Toddler and Primary students enjoy learning about making music with rhythm instruments, movement and singing each week not only in the classroom but with a music instructor. Music combined with fun creates a unique experience for early childhood development. Our music teacher visits each classroom to enhance upon the music skills that have been introduced in the classroom and work on other aspects of music. The music teacher prepares all of the children for our Holiday program, Spring program and graduation.
Lunch ProgramA local catering company caters a daily hot lunch for our children if they choose to participate. The other option is to bring a lunch on a daily basis. Please put a cold pack in the lunch to ensure the lunch stays cool due to being unable to place all lunches in the fridge. Lunch items will not be heated up. A way to keep the lunch items warm is to place them in a thermos.
Extra Curricular and After Care Opportunities:Chinese Language - FWMS wants to make sure students are exposed to a multitude of cultural experiences. Basic Chinese language lessons will be offered weekly. Primary Students will learn basic words, letters, numbers, communication terms and information about the Chinese culture.
Spanish Language - is available for a limited number of Toddler and Primary children. The children will learn simple phrases, songs, names of animals, grace and courtesy, and much more.
Computer Enrichment - Primary students will be invited to learn a multitude of computer skills ranging from loading a program to a variety of computer functions. The students truly enjoy the weekly experience.
Monkeynastix- BORN TO MOVE! Let Monkeynastix take your child on a journey of discovery that will not only shape the body, but wire the mind for Academic Success. Children are born to move and through Monkeynastix we encourage them to explore and discover the world through their senses and their bodies with our fun and exciting movement education program – Designed by Specialists, Endorsed by Therapists and Teachers and Loved by Kids!
Karate- is a basic self defense course for Primary children. The weekly class emphasises respect, concentration and disciple. Children enjoy working with their black belt instructor, who has over 17 years of experience and a local school teacher, on kicks, punches, body control and much more. All classes emphasize the importance of the skills to only be practiced while in the presence of their instructor.
