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About the Teacher
 Michelle Cilmi, head teacher and director, has dreamed of owning her
own preschool ever since the day she first visited a Montessori
classroom. Her dream has come alive in the Lehigh Valley Montessori
Academy. She received a B.S. with dual certification in Elementary
Ed. and Early Childhood Ed. After four years of training, she
received her AMS Montessori Certification. In May 2006, she received
an Early Childhood Director’s Certificate from Lehigh Carbon
Community College.
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About our School
We are
a family-owned preschool located in a residential community only minutes
from Rt. 222 and Rt. 100. Our program follows the Montessori philosophy by
serving children between the ages of 3 and 6 in a multi-aged classroom.
Our prepared environment is equipped with high quality Montessori materials
so that children can progress at their own rate and learn to respect
themselves, others and their environment. The children are guided by an AMS
certified Head Teacher who recognizes their developmental need for freedom
within limits.
LVMA is a licensed "Family Day Care Home" enabling the children to enjoy
small class sizes. The demand for a Montessori education is high and student
space is limited, so please call today about enrollment information.
Lehigh Valley Montessori Academy welcomes students of any race, color,
national or ethnic origin.
Our Mission Statement
Lehigh Valley Montessori Academy is dedicated to
providing children with a Montessori education in a loving
environment. Each child will be empowered with independence,
confidence and creativity in order to achieve his or her maximum
potential. Through the powerful connection of child, parent and
teacher, we will provide our children with a lifelong love of
learning. |
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Additional Staff
 Helping
with the school administration and child monitoring is Miss Michelle's
mom. She has service and experience with children from
her many dedicated years as a nurse's assistant in the Parkland School
district and a volunteer at a local Montessori School. |
 Assisting
Michelle with business decision-making and planning, as well as classroom
maintenance and repair, is husband Michael Cilmi. For eight years, Michael
worked as a behavioral modification professional, focusing on children with
autism and behavioral disorders. After switching careers, Michael is now a
document management specialist at Edwards Business Systems in Bethlehem, PA.
He spends most of his free time scuba diving and has now become a certified
Dive Master. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does the Montessori program offer Music, Art or Physical Education?
A. Yes, in Montessori, the Arts are integrated into the curriculum.
Children learn the names of the composers, as they listen to classical
masterpieces. They learn the notes of the scale while playing the bells.
Art is encouraged throughout all of the subject areas. Famous artists
are studied, such as Henri Matisse, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cezanne.
The children are encouraged to exercise their gross motor skills daily.
There is time in the morning and afternoon for free-play outside, as
well as yoga and stretching activities indoors.
Q. Does the Montessori Philosophy encourage creativity in the
classroom?
A. Most children are, by nature, creative beings. All of the children
receive lessons on the materials, they learn how to care for them and
use them properly. After the children receive a lesson, they are free to
be creative with that material- as long as it is not abused or damaged.
In the language area, the boys and girls are encouraged to re-enact
stories that they here in books. There is an easel available to give the
children opportunities for creative expression.
Q. Is Montessori good for children with learning disabilities? What
about the gifted?
A. Montessori was designed for children to work at their own pace- that
is the beauty of a Montessori classroom. The classroom becomes a
community with children of varying abilities learning from each other.
This multi-age grouping allows children to feel comfortable with their
level instead of always feeling ahead or behind in relation to the rest
of the class.
Q. What special training does a Montessori Teacher need?
A. Most Montessori training organizations require a bachelors degree for
admission. The training lasts approximately four years (8 semesters),
including a year of internship in a recognized Montessori School. Our
school Director was trained through the American Montessori Society (AMS).
Teacher assistants require a high school education and at least thirty
hours of experience working with children. These employees would also be
required to take a Primary Assistant Training workshop. If you are
interested in becoming a Primary Assistant Teacher, please contact the
school.
Q. What types of socialization will my child experience?
A. When a group of children are gathered together in a calm and friendly
environment, socialization is a natural occurrence. The children are
encouraged to work together on certain activities or class projects.
Some children are more comfortable working individually, so they may
choose to work next to a friend. We only ask that their socialization
does not interrupt the work of others. The children are given an
opportunity to be together as a class during circle time, which helps
them to practice good listening skills and turn-taking experiences.
Outdoor time provides children with ample time to talk and play.
Q. Are there any studies showing academic benefits from a Montessori
Education?
A. Research studies on the Montessori Philosophy are now becoming widely
available due to the rise in Montessori Education in the United States.
These studies show that Montessori children are well-prepared
academically, socially and emotionally. Besides scoring well on
standardized tests, Montessori children are ranked above average on such
criteria as following directions, turning in work on time, listening
attentively, using basic skills, showing responsibility, asking
provocative questions, showing enthusiasm for learning, and adapting to
new situations.
The following report was published by the North American Montessori
Teachers Association (NAMTA):
Montessori students reported a significantly better quality of
experience in their academic work than did traditional students. In
addition, Montessori students perceived their schools as a more positive
community for learning, with more opportunities for active, rather than
passive, learning.
This study was sponsored by the North American Montessori Teachers
Association (NAMTA, an affiliate organization of AMI) and published in
The NAMTA Journal 28:3 (Summer, 2003), pages 12-52.
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