By John Breech / STAFF

Just over one century ago, Italian physician Dr. Maria Montessori opened a children’s school outside of Rome. Montessori, the first woman in Italy to receive a medical degree, was a firm believer that children needed to self-educate. She believed that during their most impressionable years, it was imperative that they be put in an environment where they had autonomous control over what they learned and how fast they learned it. Montessori’s teaching system was only devised after watching children learn for thousands of hours. Now, almost 103 years later, Montessori’s teaching methods are still thriving and there is no better proof of that than Roswell’s Cross of Life Christian Montessori (COLCM).

Montessori schools can cater to students and children of all ages, from pre-school to high school. COLCM specializes in children at the pre-school age; Cross of Life welcomes children as young as 15 months and as old as six.

According to COLCM Director Kim Coleburn, the vision of COLCM is simple, their initiative is “to minister to families with young children, sharing with them the love of Christ and encouraging the children to reach their uniquely created potential in a remarkable educational environment.” Coleburn also points out that the Montessori concept is perfect for the pre-school age group because they’re at an age where they experience “dramatic and obvious changes, both physically and intellectually.”

As mentioned above, Dr. Montessori’s ideal learning environment is one where the students learn at their own pace doing their own things. The implementation of this idea, Coleburn explains, is what makes COLCM different from your average everyday pre-school, “Looking at our classrooms, you will notice distinct differences between us and a more common type of pre-school,” says Coleburn. “First, in our classroom you will find a range of ages. Our toddler class students start as young as 15 months and go until around age three. Our Primary class students enter the classrooms somewhere between two and a half and three and stay in that class through six years of age.”

Coleburn says the rationale behind the groupings is simple, “Children develop at very different rates,” she points out. What this means is that a four-year-old might be ready for a concept that a five-year-old isn’t quite ready for, in a Montessori education, this is completely acceptable and almost expected. Each child can “explore and experience concepts when [they’re] ready and happily interested,” says Coleburn.

If you’re wondering what your child can expect if they enroll at COLCM, Coleburn points out that what they offer in the classroom is what many other schools consider ‘extra,’ “Music is part of the everyday [curriculum], along with art, geography, science and a wide range of cultural studies.” As far as variety and productiveness go, parents probably won’t find a better option anywhere else.

In a Montessori school, there is almost no limit to what a child can learn. Coleburn explains that point by talking about some of the things that the children do in class, “The youngest children choose among activities that look appealing to them, doing everything from preparing crackers and cheese to be shared with their classmates, to re-filling the garden’s bird feeder, or painting a grand masterpiece,” says Coleburn. “As the children progress in their academics, they might choose to write a story, laying out pre-formed letters on a mat.  Another child might choose to take the ten-cubed chain off the shelf and count its components, effectively counting by 10’s all the way to 1000!  Someone else may be taking out all the pieces of a puzzle map of Europe and replacing them in their proper location.” We’re talking about five-year-olds that know where Belgium is on a map!

Kindergarteners Aubrey and Julian discovered a mutual interest not to long ago: poetry. The young pair used their Montessori education to put together the following poem:

Clouds of falling snow; cover us in a snow blanket; icicle breath on my nose;

A snowball fight with a snowman; until the rain washes away my snow blanket.

If you’re thinking about enrolling your child at COLCM, Coleburn says the school is looking for “children whose parents are committed to providing for and participating in an excellent educational experience, where the school and family build a relationship that focuses on reaching their God-given potential.”

For her part, Coleburn isn’t someone who just talks the talk; she also walks the walk. The COLCM director sent her kids through the Montessori school and according to her, they loved it, “their experiences at COLCM laid such a fantastic foundation for their continued learning,” says Coleburn. “They’re well-prepared for whatever comes next both in their education and in their lives.”

Coleburn also mentions that her staff is second to none, “Our two primary teachers have both raised Montessori children, experiencing a Montessori education from the parent’s perspective,” she says. “With over 30 years of classroom teaching between them, they offer amazing, experienced guidance.” She also pointed out that her toddler teacher was once a Montessori student herself.

As if a valuable Montessori education wasn’t enough, COLCM also offers a breathtaking location. Comfortably nestled in the vibrant foliage between Foe Killer Creek and Hembree Park, Mother Nature set aside a perfect spot for the school that parents love. Cross of Life is tucked away on a protected piece of Roswell’s remaining woodlands. The location keeps students far away from daily traffic and other every day dangers.

Finally Coleburn wants to make sure people aren’t fooled by schools that claim to be Montessori, “Dr. Montessori did nothing to protect the use of her name, so many schools have ‘Montessori’ in their name, but not in their classrooms.” COLCM just happens to have it in their name and classroom.

To find out how a Montessori education can benefit your child, visit the Cross of Life Christian Montessori School. Interested parents can call (770) 475-3812 or visit the school’s website at colmontessori.com.