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Operated Since 1975

MONTESSORI LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

Preschool in Rockville, Maryland

Norbeck kindergarten class enjoying a break image

Montessori Language Development

Language development is ingrained in everyday life and therefore encouraged in a Montessori classroom through freedom of conversation, self-expression, and communication between peers, children, and adults. The Montessori classroom is organized in such a way that all lessons lend themselves naturally towards the development of written and oral language and reading.

Norbeck Montessori encompasses all aspects of language arts as you would traditionally have in a classroom; reading, handwriting, spelling, grammar, creative writing, and oral presentation. Similar to Montessori Math, Language is a system of symbols and corresponding sounds which is a means of communication of ideas and feelings. When a child arrives at Norbeck Montessori, the child has already absorbed an understanding for the use of language. The Primary classroom at Norbeck Montessori has been curated with basic tools for language development.

Introduction to Handwriting

Handwriting is a process that requires much preparation because it combines manual dexterity and the ability to express thoughts with graphic symbols. Our children at Norbeck Montessori are preparing for writing through sound games, and Sandpaper Letters which help the children become aware that each sound has a symbol.

With the Moveable Alphabet, children can put thought into symbols, “writing” their first single word. Daily practice of different strokes will refine the child’s hand movements and will continue to train the muscles.

Norbeck kindergarten class enjoying a break image
Norbeck kindergarten class enjoying a break image

Introduction to Reading

Some children will come to read in the “explosive period,” around 4 ½ years old. However, the child has been preparing for reading all along. Everything the child has been working on up to this point with Practical Life and Sensorial materials helps the child to read.

Direct and indirect preparation play a significant role in a child’s joy of learning to read. Sandpaper Letters, the Moveable Alphabet, and playing Sound games help the child to connect the sound to the written symbol.

When a child puts symbols and sounds together, they are able to find that a word has meaning. As the child practices this process, they will move into greater and greater ease of reading.

Introduction to Culture

Language is the bridge to culture; it is used as guidance and instruction. Names are given to activities along with their function and purpose to build the child’s vocabulary. Experiences in the arts, dance, music, life and physical sciences, history, and geography all help inform and crystallize language.

Every cultural lesson has a sensorial base for the child, teaching the child to participate and contribute which helps them to become an active member of society.

Norbeck kindergarten class enjoying a break image

Bring Language Learning Home

Many parents ask how they can bring language learning home. Well, this might be the easiest Montessori area to replicate. The next time you have a conversation with a baby, watch how the baby’s eyes focus on your mouth. Look closely as the baby watches the lips move; he looks at them most intently and tries to imitate the movements.
There is no better time for children to learn words than between 3 and 6 years of age. Children are like sponges at this age!

  • norbeck iconSing Songs with them from “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” or “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.” Better yet, make up your own melodies and lyrics!
  • norbeck iconName what the children see, taste, smell, hear and feel. Help them connect the senses to words. When your child puckers their lips after tasting a lemon, provide the words that the child experienced. “Lemons taste very sour, don’t they?”
  • norbeck iconRead, read, and then read some more. Read poems, nursery rhymes, counting books, picture books, or folk tales. Don’t limit yourself to reading books! Written language is everywhere, the grocery store, the doctor’s office, menus in restaurants and highway signs!

Testimonials

What Parents Say

We believe that clear communication with parents is essential to the child’s wellbeing. It is particularly important during the early preschool years when children reach and surpass many developmental milestones. Naturally, we work diligently to help each of the children to be best taken care of.  That is the reason why the parents give us  best reviews. Here are a few of them.

Stacey Guedes
Stacey Guedes
2018-10-25
My children have been at Norbeck for 5 years and our experience has been nothing but amazing. They are treated and cared for with love and respect. They enjoy going to school every day and have learned how to be independent children both in the classroom and in every day life. They have grown to be upstanding and courteous young ladies
fiorella pasara
fiorella pasara
2018-10-09
This place is amazing! When we were looking for a daycare or preschool where to send our 3 year old back then, we did some research and went to different places and realize this was the only one where you could see the kids and the teachers happy and having a great time (remember that's the environment you want your kids to grow in). So we decided for Norbeck and that was the best decision ever! Our son had the best experience during his 4 years there. We even kept him in the Kindergarten program (AMAZING). He learned so much and grew emotionally and socially as well. Great foundation and such a loving atmosphere for the kids. I could not recommend a better place. And BTW did I said he learned reading by 4 years and has started 1st grade knowing addition, subtraction and multiplication? Yep that's how great this place is 🙂
Nisha Patel
Nisha Patel
2015-12-03
Norbeck Montessori has been the most amazing experience for us! Our daughter has been there for over a year and absolutely loves it. The teachers are amazing and make you and your child feel welcome, nurtured and loved! And, the lessons they do on a daily basis are so fun and educational at the same time. Definitely recommend to any parents looking for a positive and warm environment for their kids, and be prepared to be part of a small and loving family!
Melanie Deal
Melanie Deal
2015-12-03
What would I have done without Norbeck? This is my daughter's second year and every day I am more and more amazed about how much she is learning. She is only 4 years old and she is able to read, write and count to 100. The activities that the school coordinates through the year nurtures a sense of community/family, events include Halloween parade, Thanksgiving feast, Christmas song festival and much more! She loves her school, teachers and friends. I highly recommend this school.
Reese Alutto-Schmidt
Reese Alutto-Schmidt
2015-12-02
Our son has had a wonderful experience at Norbeck. The teachers and staff are incredibly energetic and positive -- they are uniformly dedicated to nurturing and teaching kids. Everyone clearly loves their jobs. The school's parent community is welcoming and active for those parents that are interested. We plan to send our second child next year!
Laura Calderone
Laura Calderone
2015-10-13
We love Norbeck! The staff are amazing taking care of our children like warm and nurturing parents and help guide them on their educational journey. Our 5 year old is already reading, doing fractions and loves the science class. Our 3 year old knows Spanish phrases and can write his own name. Your child will cultivate incredible skills and gain all the tools they need to be driven, focusing amazing people.
Lesley Lightfoot
Lesley Lightfoot
2015-02-01
My son has only been with Norbeck Montessori for 2.5 months (at the time of this review). The progress, and noticed development that has happened during that time has been incredible for my husband and I to see. He has grown socially, physically, and mentally, all thanks to what is offered at the school from the moment of drop off, until we see him at the end of the day. We feel assured that he is with Norbeck Montessori.
Beth Davis
Beth Davis
2014-12-05
Norbeck Montessori is one of those rare places where children can go to learn in a loving and supportive environment full of enrichment opportunities and amazing teachers. Norbeck has been a part of our family for nearly three decades. As a Norbeck alumni, I would not want to see my kids anywhere else. My children started attending the school ten years ago, when my oldest was 2 ½, and we have remained in the Norbeck family as each of our children has grown to preschool age. In the past ten years we have had three children attend Norbeck, one of whom is in the Jr. K program this year. Today, many of the same kind and smiling faces of teachers we have known for years welcome us with open arms each morning. Tara and Ryan along with Keira have done an amazing job of revamping the program and adding fresh new extracurricular programs like soccer, gymnastics and cooking classes. Norbeck is not only an amazing environment for children to learn and grow, it is a true community atmosphere where families come together and form lifelong friendships. Some of my closest friendships started at Norbeck and my oldest daughter is still very close friends with several of the friends she made at Norbeck over ten years ago. A first grade teacher from our local elementary school recently approached me and said “Your daughter is a Norbeck kid, isn’t she?" When I confirmed, she continued, saying "I can tell. The kids from that school come in here heads and shoulders above so many other kids. Not only are they working at higher levels in reading and math, they have a strong grasp of science and an appreciation for art and music that we don’t see coming out of other programs.” And it is true. Sending our kids to Norbeck has been an investment in their future. My oldest, who is now in 7th grade, and my second child, now in 1st, are both receiving accelerated instruction in all subjects. I cannot say enough great things about this amazing school that has contributed so much to the education and enrichment of my family.
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