Overview of Our Programs

At Forest City Village School, children learn in mixed age classrooms that mirror real community life. Older students grow as role models. Younger students receive natural peer support. Lessons are given by our Montessori guides in individual and small group settings so each child moves at an appropriate pace.

Our campus sits beside James Memorial Public Library and St. James City Park, giving us daily access to nature trails, open green space, and frequent library visits.

We offer two full time programs, primary and elementary and one part-time home-school enrichment program, erdkinder.

 

Primary Class (Acorns)

Ages 3 to 6 years old (PreK to Kindergarten)

At this stage children have what Maria Montessori called the absorbent mind. They take in language, movement, and social skills through purposeful activity. Our guides prepare a calm, beautiful environment that invites choice and concentration. Children receive daily engaging lessons. We extend the classroom outdoors into St. James City Park and walk regularly to the library for story time and research.

Core areas of work include:

  • Practical Life: care of self, care of the environment, grace and courtesy

  • Sensorial: refining the senses through hands on materials

  • Language: sound games, phonics, pre writing, beginning reading

  • Mathematics: number sense, quantity, and operations with concrete materials

  • Culture and Science: geography, nature study, seasonal observations

“The goal of early childhood education should be to activate the child’s own natural desire to learn.”

- Maria Montessori

“The goal of early childhood education should be to activate the child’s own natural desire to learn.” - Maria Montessori

Elementary Class (Saplings)

Ages 6 to 12 years old (Grades 1 to 6)

Our elementary classroom is child centered. Montessori guides observe, present short lessons, and step back. Children choose meaningful work, set goals, and follow their curiosity at a pace that fits them. Long work periods allow for focus, creativity, and real progress.


How learning works:

  • Individual and small group lessons

  • Student choice with gentle guidance from the guide

  • Projects, research, and presentations that grow from interests

  • Daily practice in collaboration, problem solving, and care for the community

Core studies
Reading, writing, grammar, mathematics, geography, history, biology, music, and science. Materials begin concrete and lead children toward abstract understanding and real world application.

Beyond the classroom
Learning happens indoors and outside. We use the St. James City Park as an outdoor classroom and visit the James Memorial Public Library for books and research We frequently engage in service learning by working with community organizations. Local guests share their skills so students connect studies to everyday life. Students plan outings to bring in more community learning, and go on frequent field trips.

A collage of children engaging in various science and nature activities, including sewing, handling a worm, examining a flower, painting pottery, and a group reading session.

*NEW *Erdkinder Class

3 day home-school enrichment for middle and high school students.

The translation of Erdkinder from German is “children of the earth”, as Maria Montessori viewed the time spent during adolescence as preparing to enter the global community as they enter adulthood. Currently this is a 3-day a week program to support home-schooling families.

In this program the students prepare for adulthood, as well as future academic efforts through hands-on experience and study. Emphasis is put on critical thinking throughout the subjects. Students study literature with focus on reading comprehension and analysis, as well as writing progress. Students study both US and world history by diving into a historical events and using timelines. They explore the scientific method through hands on experiments. To developing mathematical reasoning, students explore topics in real world situations through projects, as well as working to advance mathematics comprehension  through steadily advancing content. Students work beyond the classroom in their broader community and share their work to benefit a broader audience. Service learning is an integral part of this program, as well as entrepreneurship explored through craft and personal interest.  This program is designed to both accommodate and embrace students of any academic background and help families find the support to help their teenagers reach their full potential, both academically as well as in the effort to graduate as confident, well-adjusted, capable individuals.