Learning at MSD
Why Parents Choose MSD
Convenient Location
Montessori School of Duluth is tucked away in the lovely Hunter’s Park residential neighborhood of Duluth. Convenient to downtown and the colleges, it’s also just blocks from a local park we frequent often. The quiet setting provides an atmosphere perfect for children’s education in the beginning years.
Child-Centered Education
Our Montessori classrooms have child-sized furnishings, attractively arranged materials for independent work, carefully sequenced activities for math, science, and language, and lots of area for work on the floor. Children move around and converse as they work together.
Sometimes the children work alone, sometimes in small groups. Guides give presentations to individuals as needed. Many and varied outlets for creative expression and sharing of each child’s interests are provided, with music, recreation, and art integrated into the week’s activities. The school emphasizes international understanding and cultural sharing, as well.
Personal Attention
Montessori School of Duluth enrolls on average of about 50-75 children, making it a close-knit community for students and families. School administration and teachers know each child and family. Thanks to the just-right size, we can provide individualized support as needed. One can immediately feel the warmth of the community stepping in our door.
Caring, Qualified Teachers
Montessori Guides are trained to focus on building the person first, and then provide the space and resources for each child to blossom. They are some of the best-trained teachers in the world, with years of advanced education and supervised student teaching behind them. Our Guides all have college degrees. They bring a wealth of classroom experience with project-based learning and are committed to upholding the high standard of Montessori philosophy. MSD also invests in continuing education for its teachers, as a part of its commitment to quality education for its students.
Beautiful Campus
Our school environment provides security, warmth, and the opportunity for creative play, friendship, and recreation.
The remodeled interior has spacious classrooms, and features a wing specially designed for small children, including in-floor radiant heat. Children enjoy many low windows for seeing outside, direct access to the outdoors, and child-height sinks in the classroom. Daily programs are aided by bathrooms built for small children, two kitchen areas, and a curated library.
Our grounds have also been recently transformed, and feature carefully designed educational and play spaces. Each classroom has its own fenced “outdoor classroom,” and students share raised garden beds. Play structures include climbers and spinners, a slide, sandbox, natural features like a rock playscape, a paved path for trikes, and a sports field for older students. On the roof is a solar panel installation, along the boulevard are rainwater gardens, and near the building are recycling bins, all of which teach environmental stewardship through example.
Before- and After-Care
We understand that working parents need care beyond normal school hours. With Before- and After-Care at MSD you can tailor your child’s schedule to your individual needs, billed hourly.
The Before- and After-Care program at MSD is run in the Montessori spirit, promoting independence and responsibility. We give children consistency while providing a change of pace for all-day students. Children independently choose what they would like to do from an array of educational toys, puzzles, and games. Weather permitting, lots of time is spent outdoors, and children participate in occasional seasonal, art, or cooking projects.
Life-long Success
Reports received from parents and teachers throughout our 35+ years are that our graduates excel in junior high and enjoy the new challenges in senior high. We’ve found that schools in and beyond Duluth appreciate incoming students from Montessori School of Duluth due to their strong sense of self, thorough academic preparation, confidence, and ability to take initiative for learning. MSD graduates …
- Are skilled and curious learners who know how to learn.
- Have formed a positive relationship to learning.
- Are strong readers, curious researchers, assertive experimenters, and resilient risk takers.
- Possess the flexibility, reflectivity, open-mindedness and compassion to socialize and interact with people from all walks of life.
Graduates of Montessori School of Duluth have attended more than fifty colleges and various prestigious graduate schools. They often travel and live abroad. Many have families now and build their careers in business, science areas, education, journalism, human services, and the arts. They often maintain friendships started at Montessori School of Duluth!
