Welcome

"Having done one thing well, a child does all things better."

Desert Montessori School, an exempt educational organization, is a model learning center where children, their families, and the staff learn and grow in service to their communities.

Our school has mixed-aged classes for students ages 2-12, dedicated to and inspired by the innovative educational principles of Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952). Each three-year age grouping creates a feeling of family and allows a child to progress with fewer social transitions. This grouping gives the mature younger child someone to emulate; the older child refines social skills and practices leadership by teaching younger children.

For all classrooms and all ages, our program includes:

-Practical, daily living skills and refinement of the senses.
-Communication and conflict resolution skills.
-Reading, writing and research skills.
-Math, number recognition/manipulation skills.
-Introduction of geometry language and algebra concepts.
-Science and exploration of the natural world.
-Inter-cultural studies and geography.
-Music, rhythm, instrument concentrations with expressive movement.
-Storytelling and poetry.
-Visual arts, art history and crafts.
-Field trips that tie to currriculum; in-class guests and workshops.
-Inner awareness and development of positive emotional language.

Our three-year sequence of progressively challenging work allows children to progress independently at their own pace, leading to a strong sense of security, accomplishment and joy. The works are designed to lead a child in discovery from the simple to the complex, and from concrete to abstract concepts.

Conflict resolution skills are taught as a third language at our school. We have found that fluency in problem solving deepens as a child practices voicing concerns, mediating conflicts, achieving compromise and making descisions.