Bilingual Arts and Sciences Montessori Center of Falls Church
Renaissance Montessori
Location
Renaissance Montessori Internationale
115 Park Avenue Falls Church, 22046 703-244-0585
Spanish,French, Mandarin & Montessori Education/Fostering independence and self-discovery through
the exchange of language, culture and ideas. 
Montessori L’Ecole Française du Falls Church offers children a unique opportunity to celebrate diversity while pursuing their individual paths toward development. Our goal is to build a community, where students, teachers, families and volunteers come together to create an authentic and mind-opening educational experience. And between our academic classrooms and the surrounding cultural sites of Falls Church, we have an ideal environment for learning and growth.
The Montessori Bilingual Arts and Sciences Programs
Renaissance Montessori of Falls Church / L’Ecole Franco-Américaine, has created a unique learning environment driven by a curricula designed to draw highly-motivated, creative and talented students who are destined to be the leaders and achievers of the future. Arts and Science education is another foundation of our program, resulting in students who will benefit from:
- The opportunity to develop creative minds, character and team building skills and the foundation that builds skills for future success in life and in school
- Academic skills in reading, writing and math plus cultural studies and languages
- Self discipline, cooperation and the ability to develop concentrtion and follow directions
- Meaningful Language Immersion
- A solid educational foundation
- Exciting, challenging material created to satisfy the needs of the “sensitive periods” in your child’s development
- An environment where learning evolves ; as your child advances, starting with basic materials and growing to the more challenging materials and learning experiences
- Self-discipline, initiative and excellent work habits
- A program where your child can learn at his/her own pace, naturally and spontaneously in an open classroom environment, with children three and older.
- An education in grace and courtesy, and positive conflict resolution skills.
Preschool Kindergarten Elementary
Innovative Programs
Renaissance is dedicated to the positive development of creative, constructive and dedicated learners. This objective is achieved through uniquely innovative educational programs. Each program encapsulates those best practices established in educational research, such as conceptualization through hands-on learning and academic study through a foreign language.
Learning a second language has innumerable benefits on a child’s life. It increases creativity and enhances verbal and mathematical problem solving skills. The students develop an advantage in grasping & formulating concepts. These skills contribute profoundly to a child’s self-esteem and their sense of values. Best of all, it prepares a child for life in the multi-cultural, multilingual world of the 21st century.
Falls Church and Renaissance
Due to the fact that our location is in close proximity to the Falls Church Community Center, Library, Cherry Hill Park and the Falls Church Fire Department, we will frequently have the opportunity to visit these locations and benefit from all that they have to offer. Our children will be able to learn and have a great time doing it when we are on cultural and nature outings.
What the research shows:
Why Tools of the Mind and Montessori Educational Approaches Can Help Executive Function Skills
View a copy of Dr. Diamond’s slides from this lecture: http://static.vtc.vt.edu/pdf/diamond_vtcri_public.pdf
“Executive functions” (EFs) refer to the cognitive-control abilities dependent on the prefrontal cortex, such as selective attention, self-control, problem-solving, reasoning, and not getting into trouble. These abilities can be improved through training and practice. They are also particularly susceptible to disruption by stress, lack of sleep, loneliness, or lack of exercise. Conversely, what nourishes the human spirit, it turns out, is also best for the exercise of EFs.
Diverse activities have been shown to improve children’s EFs, including computerized training with or without other types of games, aerobics, martial arts, yoga, mindfulness, playing a musical instrument, and school curricula. Regardless of the intervention, two key principles seem to hold. First, EFs need to be continually challenged; if EF demands do not keep increasing as children improve, few gains are seen. Second, whether EF gains are seen depends on the way an activity is done and the amount of time spent doing it, practicing and pushing oneself to do better. It’s the discipline, the practice, that produces the benefits. Even the best activity for improving EFs produces little benefit if done rarely.
Dr. Adele Diamond, whose research specialty is the prefrontal cortex (PFC), declares that PFC is overrated. To learn something new, she holds, we need PFC. But after something is no longer new, people who recruit PFC _least_ perform best. Older brain regions have had far longer to perfect their functioning; they can subserve task performance ever so much more efficiently than can PFC. A child may know intellectually (at the level of PFC) that he should not hit another, but in the heat of the moment if that knowledge has not become automatic (passed on from PFC to subcortical regions) the child will hit another (though if asked, he knows he should not do so). The only way something becomes automatic (becomes passed off from PFC) is through repeated action. Nothing else will do.
School curricula empirically shown to improve EFs share several features in common. First, the classroom is not centered around the teacher, and the teacher is rarely expected to teach all children the same thing at the same time. Instead, children progress at their own individual rates. They work largely on their own and with one or a few other children. They help mentor other children and work cooperatively. Because other children are productively engaged when the teacher works with any individual child, individualized instruction can readily be provided and the teacher can spend time observing and assessing each child’s progress, seeing where assistance or new challenges might be needed for a particular child. Finally, children are required neither to sit still for long nor to learn primarily by listening rather than doing.
http://research.vtc.vt.edu/events/2011/dec/01/why-tools-of-the-mind/
Language Program and Renaissance Montessori
After-school Language Intensive Program
In addition to the regular language program applied during the normal school day, we offer an afterschool language intensive. The children will learn Spanish, French, and Mandarin through song, story, and play. They will learn about the geography and cultures behind the languages they learn to speak, which will help to give them an appreciation and understanding of different places and people. The language program is Two Way Immersion. English is always taught as well as the target language. We encourage children to join our program who do not speak English and also, of course, children who speak English as their first language. Students from other language schools will also benefit from our teaching methods and improve their language communication skills without neglecting the important skills needed to provide a strong foundation in reading, math and social skills.
Program Hours:
Monday & Wednesday – 3:30 to 5:15
Tuesday & Thursday – 3:30 to 5:15
For more information about our after-school program, please call 703-244-0585
Learning foreign languages at an early age provides priceless advantages and benefits
We are most unique in that our school offers a multi-lingual program. Our language program includes Mandarin, French and Spanish.
According to experts, introducing children to foreign languages should begin as early as possible. For a child, the advantages and benefits of learning multiple languages at an early age are extremely valuable andcontinue long into adulthood.
what makes us especially different from other schools is our language program. In addition to the regular language program applied during the normal school day, we offer an afterschool language intensive. The children will learn Spanish, French, and Mandarin through song, story, and play. They will learn about the geography and cultures behind the languages they learn to speak, which will help to give them an appreciation and understanding of different places and people.
Benefits of learning foreign languages at an early age:
• When children learn multiple languages at a young age, they develop a life-long love of
communicating with others.
• By incorporating foreign languages into your curriculum, children develop a greater appreciation for diversity.
• When young children learn about the structure of other languages, their ability in English is
enhanced.
• Because the brain automatically compartmentalizes each language correctly, young children have
the ability to learn many languages without getting them confused.
• When children learn a second language at an early age, they will achieve a more native grasp of
both grammar and pronunciation in the second language.
Method:
repetition
songs/rhymes
role play
Puppets
Games
Action
Enriched environment
Fun!!
Quality Education and Personal Attention
Montessori Instruction – Reading, Math, Cultural Subjects
Fine Arts
Social & Leadership Skills Coaching
Spanish, French & Mandarin
After School Classes and Summer Camps
Renaissance Montessori offers a unique Program focused on challenging the mind, encouraging creativity, building enthusiasm for and enhancing artistic talents. In our unique and nurturing environment, our programs are designed to Insure Academic Success, spur the imagination, challenge inventiveness, and develop creative talents – which will foster a life-long appreciation for learning, beauty and art. We provide a strong foundation for success in life based on current research and understanding of brain development and the science of creative learning!
The Montessori Program 2012-2013
Our Commitment: The commitment and philosophy at RMC is to educate by formal Montessori instruction and to partner with parents for interactive family-based care. We help cultivate socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually healthy children through their definitive years by providing the experiences which foster joy, confidence and self-esteem encouraging each child to be unique. Our approach to education goes beyond academics. We are dedicated to the development of the whole child: social, intellectual, emotional, and physical.
After School Programs
Clean and bright interior space that is cozy and comfortable. Our classes offer every child more opportunities for relationship building with teachers and other children. Daily Montesssori lessons and positive social skills are always an important part of our curriculum. We provide the kind of opportunities for children that will enrich and inspire them to be successful in school.
The Montessori philosophy is at the heart of everything we do at Renaissance Montessori. Renaissance Montessori’s approach, based upon the unique methods of Dr. Maria Montessori, is designed to cultivate a lifelong love of learning, independence, responsibility and respect for others, the environment and all living things.
The Renaissance Montessori Success for Life Pledge
Academic Program
We serve pre-k,kindergarten and elementary students who are curious and need a challenge in a personalized atmosphere that allows us to teach to their Multiple Intelligences utilizing hands on Montessori materials and we use a research based combination of outstanding reading and math programs. We offer a unique program that children love to attend! No overcrowded classes, no chaos, no stress on your child. No problems!
For more information regarding schedules and classes please call
703-244-0585
115 Park Avenue Falls Church 22046, Virginia
montessorieducate@yahoo.com
After School Language Programs -Ages 3 and up
- Private Classes
One teacher, one student. Purchased in packages of 8.
- $60/hr.
- $55/hr. (when 16 or more classes are purchased)
Semi-Private Classes
Each class will have 2 or 3 students. Purchased in packages of 8.
- $40/hr
Group Classes
Small groups of 4-7.
- $325/each 8 week course (2hrs. a week)
- Children’s Group Classes
Fun and interactive language classes for young students.
- $200/month (two classes a week)
- $145/month (one class a week)
Famous People Who Attended Montessori Schools
The following famous people attended Montessori Schools -Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon -Sergey Brin and Larry Page, co-founders of Google -Anne Frank -Sean Combs, famous rapper of Bad Boy Records -Julia Child, famous chef - -Helen Hunt, Academy Award-winning actress -George Clooney, actor -Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Austrian painter and architect
Outline Summary of the Montessori Method
Philosophy and Method
Our curriculum provides a sound academic background while stimulating and challenging each child to meet his or her own particular needs and learning pace. Our classrooms are rich with Montessori materials and supporting activities to promote intellectual as well as social growth. We instill through example and action a love of learning, a strong work ethic, creativity, respect and compassion for others.
The Montessori philosophy embraces the whole child and his natural curiosity.
Teachers provide enough guidance to help children work toward independence, self-confidence, and self-discipline; skills that are necessary to be successful in all aspects of life.
Children move at their own pace. They are given choices that appeal to their intrinsic motivation and that are designed for each child’s current developmental level, strengths and needs.
The curriculum is integrated and capitalizes upon children’s interests and real life experiences for more meaningful learning.
The teacher presents lessons to pairs or small groups of children using concrete, sequential, beautiful materials.
It is a multi-age classroom so peers can learn from each other and develop a strong sense of community. Often the best teacher for a young child is an older peer. This also gives the older students an opportunity to practice, refine and teach their new skills, the ultimate test of mastery.
The children stay with the same teacher for three years providing continuity and consistency in their lives.
The Montessori classroom naturally provides for children with diverse learning styles and exceptionalities. The open-ended curriculum provides challenges for the gifted child.
The children learn through active exploration in a carefully planned environment, rather than passively waiting to be given information during teacher-directed instruction.
Related Research on the Effectiveness of the Montessori Method
Current studies on the importance of movement in education and how it improves memory and the integration of information in the brain validate Dr. Montessori’s educational theories from 100 years ago.
Embedding learning in a meaningful context is associated with improved learning, increased interest and a willingness to try new challenges. Montessori education follows the child’s interests, connects learning with real life experiences and integrates subject matter.
Feeling that one has control and can make choices allows a person to thrive. Learning to make good choices and becoming self-disciplined is a major goal of Montessori education.
Various studies, such as “Classwide Peer Tutoring” (Greenwood et al., 1987) have shown the effectiveness of peer tutoring within carefully structured lessons. Peer tutoring naturally occurs in the Montessori multi-age classroom and the materials and lessons are carefully planned.
Using all of the senses to learn gives a child the opportunity for more in-depth understanding of the material.
Related studies are documented in Angeline Stoll Lilliard’s book, Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius (2005).
For enrollment information and to schedule a visit, please call the office at 703-244-0585.
The Renaissance Child's Place
104b North Oak Street
Falls Church, Virginia 22046
