An Early Learning Edge With
An
Authentic Montessori Education
Everything Your Child Needs For Lifelong Curiosity, Confidence, & Independence
An Early Learning Edge With An Authentic Montessori Education
Everything Your Child Needs For Lifelong Curiosity, Confidence, & Independence
Pre-Primary | 2 - 3.5 Years | Columbia, Whittier, Frederick, Urbana, New Market, Brunswick, Ellicott City, Laurel, Elkridge, Fulton, Maple Lawn, Clarksville, MD
Montessori Materials Guide Your Child’s Development
Your little one has endless opportunities for self-led exploration and discovery. Montessori materials help create new connections, encourage independent thinking, and stimulate their mind. As they choose materials and activities that interest them, they enhance every developmental area.
The Prepared Environment Inspires A Love For Learning
A carefully prepared Montessori classroom encourages independent exploration and discovery with natural lighting, cool soft colors, open spaces, child-sized furniture, and learning materials placed within reach of little hands. Peaceful, organized classrooms enhance your child’s focus, concentration, and well-being.
Your Child’s Pre-Primary Classroom Features:
- A Range Of Books: For your child to explore independently or read aloud with an adult.
- A Self-Care Area: Fosters toilet awareness & independence in maintaining personal hygiene (wiping their nose & washing their hands).
- A Nap Area With Individual Floor Beds: Encourages autonomy when preparing for rest and allows your child to get up when they feel rested.
- A Gross Motor Skills Area: Helps your little one strengthen and coordinate their movements.
- Low Tables: Enable them to help prepare, serve, eat, and clean up after meals & snacks.
- Reading Nooks: Give your child a world of adventure every day. When they feel comfortable and safe while reading, they develop a lifelong love of books.
- Peace Corners: Offer quiet time for self-regulation when your child feels overstimulated and needs to reflect on their emotions.
Social-Emotional Learning Builds Crucial Life Skills
Group activities enable your little one to cooperate with others, create new friendships, and handle their big emotions. They succeed in future classrooms, relationships, and careers as they learn crucial social-emotional skills like empathy, sharing, and collaboration.
Authentic Montessori Experiences Prepare Them For Kindergarten
Your little one spends their days in an authentic Montessori environment backed by the American Montessori Society. With a strong focus on literacy, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), nature, and social-emotional learning, your child becomes kindergarten-ready—guaranteed.
Teachers Use Montessori Principles To Teach Your Child:
- Art
- Science
- Mathematics
- Language Arts
- Literature
- Geography/Culture
- Practical Life Skills
- Sensorial Development
- Personal History
- Music & Movement
- Social Graces & Courtesies
- Foreign Language
- Thematic Units
Sunshine, Fresh Air, & Outdoor Play Happens Here Every Day
Your little one gets lots of sunshine, fresh air, and outdoor play every day to give their physical and emotional well-being a boost. They love climbing play structures, running on spacious playgrounds, and calming their mind as they tend to onsite gardens.
An Incredible Indoor Playland For Unlimited Imaginative Adventures
Your child gets plenty of exercise and gross motor skills practice, rain or shine, with an amazing indoor playland that encourages imagination, creativity, and adventure. Your little one fosters healthy physical development and has lots of space to burn energy and enhance focus.
Specialty Classes & Enrichments For Well-Rounded Development
All-inclusive Spanish and Music and Movement lessons help your child gain language, cognition, and communication skills, while yoga, art, and gardening introduce them to new interests and talents. Soccer Shots® (available for a small fee) enhances leadership and teamwork for well-rounded development.
We Aim To Have Your Little Scholar Reading At A Kindergarten Or 1st-Grade Level By The Time They Graduate From Preschool!
Be Part Of Their Journey With Montessori Compass©
Montessori Compass© is a parent communication app that keeps you connected to your child’s learning journey through weekly progress and social development reports, important school information, adorable pictures of their creativity and spontaneity, and more.
Healthy, Delicious Snacks At No Extra Cost To You
Forget about packing snacks! Your child enjoys an all-inclusive nutritious snack, like fresh fruit, cold milk, and healthy treats, prepared in a nut-free environment every morning and afternoon to keep them energized and satisfied between meals.
FAQs
How do you ensure that children stay safe in your care?
We keep the doors locked at all times and ask that parents transition their child(ren) with the Procare® Connect touchless check-in station. We also have an internal-use security camera system for added safety. Fenced playgrounds keep children secure and shielded from street view while outdoors.
What are your cleaning and sanitization protocols?
Staff keep classrooms and common areas sparkling clean with thorough daily cleaning and sanitization.
Hear What Parents Have To Say...
"We love receiving weekly updates from their teachers, the cute pictures uploaded to the online parent portal, and how easy it is to communicate via the app!"
We enrolled our first child at GMS in May 2016, and she loves going to school. Her ability to remember things has improved significantly, and the curriculum is outstanding. We never have any issues with the teachers or the management. They have a nice space for kids to play inside when the weather outside is not suitable. All the teachers are Montessori-certified and take good care of the children.
- Manoj Bavikati
"Our daughter is thriving at Great Montessori School. I would highly recommend the GMS to any parents looking for a great place to care for their child!"
Our daughter started going to GMS in March. She was homegrown before joining this school, so I was worried about how she would adjust to the new environment. Thankfully, she adapted quite well, given the hospitality and care of GMS’s loving teachers. She would run and hug her teachers when we stepped into her class. We have also seen tremendous changes in her skills and her ability to learn new things.
- Emi K Henley
"The involvement, activities, curriculum, and atmosphere are exactly what we were looking for when deciding on childcare!"
We started our first child at GMS in June 2018 when she was just 2 years old, and she has flourished! She has learned so much over the years, and the teachers genuinely care for children like their own. Now she’s almost 5 and gets mad if I pick her up too early because she enjoys being at school! We started our second child there in August 2019 at 3.5 months old, she loves being around her friends and LOVES all of her amazing teachers.
- Amanda Harman
"We researched a lot before joining this childcare, but couldn't find any better school regarding cleanliness and infrastructure in this area!"
Our daughter started going to GMS in March. She was homegrown before joining this school, so I was worried about how she would adjust to the new environment. Thankfully, she adapted quite well, given the hospitality and care of GMS’s loving teachers. She would run and hug her teachers when we stepped into her class. We have also seen tremendous changes in her skills and her ability to learn new things.
- Sravya Vellanki
"In a nutshell, if you are looking for a school with warm, loving teachers who will help your children grow into their own individuals, this is a place!"
We were looking for a Montessori preschool for our 2-year-old twins and were very happy to find this lovely school in Columbia, MD. We love the cozy house setting where teachers give lots of attention to the children. The staff is well-versed in the Montessori method, and at the same time, they incorporate fun and art into the learning process. They loved it so much!
- Sumeet A