About Our School

East River Montessori was founded in the spring of 2003 as a cooperative preschool group using the Montessori method of early childhood education. In the fall of 2004, East River Montessori became an independent school for children aged three to six.

The Montessori method, conceived by Italian Maria Montessori in the early 1900s, focuses on developing the concentration and intellect of the child through a rich and prepared environment. The materials at East River Montessori are carefully selected to captivate the child and to enhance his natural ability to learn by doing. Every activity engages the hands and the senses, encouraging the child’s quiet concentration on his work.

A few examples: a child gets her own snack from a platter when she wishes. After she finishes eating, she cleans up her place and sets the table for the next child. Many of the other materials are also centered around ‘life skills:’ washing tables, sorting beads, squeezing oranges to make juice and so on. Preparation for writing, reading, and math is achieved through the use of special materials designed to interest and motivate the child in a natural progression of learning. The toys and games of a typical preschool are absent, since children in a Montessori classroom accomplish real tasks in which they can take pride.

In the Montessori classroom, children are free to work with whatever materials they choose for as long as they choose. Children are required to respect the materials (no throwing the wooden sphere, for example) and to respect each other (they must ask their classmate’s permission to work with another’s chosen materials). The students’ respect for their work and for one another creates an atmosphere of calm but purposeful activity – the mark of a Montessori classroom.

At East River Montessori, each child is respected and celebrated as an individual. The teachers pay careful attention to each child’s abilities and interests and create detailed lessons plans for each child.

Specifics

The age range for our classroom is three to six, including the kindergarten year, and each child must be toilet-trained. East River Montessori meets five days a week, 9 AM — noon. Attending fewer days is an option; attending 5 days per week is recommended for maximum benefit.

East River Montessori does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, or national and ethnic origin, in its administration or in its educational or admissions policies.

Dr. Alice M. Hawthorne Allen, Director

director@eastrivermontessori.com | 304.325.8429

P.O. Box 573 Bluefield, WV 24701

Located at Bland and North Streets