Bilingual Montessori School in Milan, Italy

The Bilingual Montessori School of Milan:
The Bilingual Montessori School of Milan is a preschool for children ages three to six years, located close to the city centre of Milan, Italy. We provide bilingual education to our students: In both classrooms, a team of two teachers, one Italian speaker and the other English speaker, collaborate using a bilingual approach to education. The two teachers take turns with the childrens' activities, while communicating in their native tongues. The bilingual approach is particularly appropriate for a Montessori classroom, where teachers typically emphasize individualized interaction with the students.

Bilingual Preschool Program:
For children ages 3-6 years. Curriculum includes:

- Montessori Method:
The Montessori method is an educational approach that views education as a natural and essential extension of the child. It fosters growth and autonomy with the ultimate goal of helping children reach their potential through respect of self and others.

- Bilingual Education:
In both classrooms, a team of two teachers, one Italian speaker and the other English speaker, collaborate using a bilingual approach to education. The two teachers take turns the children’s activities while communicating in their native tongues. The bilingual approach is particularly appropriate for a Montessori classroom, where teachers typically emphasize individualized interaction with the students.

- Educational Activities:
Children have access to a variety of self-directed educational activities. The classrooms contain special areas for reading, working with Montessori materials, music, painting and manipulation.

- Practical Life Activities:
Developing independence with practical daily skills is a central feature of Montessori education. Children enjoy imitating “adult” activities and they draw deep satisfaction from opportunities for “doing this on my own”. Building on these natural tendencies, children in the Montessori classroom routinely engage in activities that promote practical skills and help them learn how to:

- Look after themselves by getting dressed and undressed, washing and tying shoe laces.
- Take care of their environment by cleaning, tidying, sweeping, washing dishes, hanging out clothes, ironing, setting and clearing the table, and watering plants.
- Perform various useful activities such as pouring, squeezing juice, peeling fruit and vegetables and shining their shoes.

- Outdoor Activities:
The school yard provides space for outdoor play. Additionally, there is a gardening plot in the shade of an old fig tree where children can experience growing vegetables and other plants with their own hands.

- Music Education:
Musical education plays an important role in the Montessori classroom. In a dedicated music room children learn to listen to, identify and classify sounds, tones and rhythms. They also practice singing and moving to various rhythms. According to Maria Montessori, these highly enjoyable musical activities facilitate the development of children’s expressive skills. Additionally, the sensory-psychomotor approach used in music education is effective in promoting body awareness and motor coordination.

Additionally:  Summer camp program and after-school programs.

* Bilingual Primary School opening in September 2011