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 educational philosophy, developmental materials, and learning and teaching techniques provide the environment that research indicates is best suited to a dual-language immersion approach.
Montessori education is staged in three learning clusters: 3- to 6-year-olds (Primary), 6- to 9-year-olds (Lower Elementary), and 9- to 12-year-olds (Upper Elementary). The Primary classrooms are organized into practical life, sensorial, and academic areas and students learn while studying in both Spanish and English. Elementary classrooms are organized in the same areas and students learn language arts, mathematics, science, history, and geography while studying in two languages.
LAMB’s Montessori dual-language immersion classroomsare a child-size world. The entire environment supports the child’s 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.
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
LAMB delivers its Montessori curriculum bilingually in Spanish and English. Our youngest Primary students receive the majority of their education in Spanish, with English literacy and vocabulary formally introduced in the Kindergarten year. In the Lower Elementary classrooms, 60% of instruction is delivered in Spanish and 40% is delivered in English. In the Upper Elementary community, Spanish and English instruction is delivered 50-50.
As a public charter school in the District of Columbia, LAMB students participate annually in the high-stakes DC-CAS exams. All third through fifth grade students test in Language Arts and Mathematics. Additionally, fourth grade students also test in Writing, and fifth grade students also test in Science.
For more information about LAMB’s bilingual Montessori instruction at the different grade-levels, please see the following pages: