History
The story of Nature's Way Montessori began on January 1, 2013.
The property and site had operated as Silver Lining Preschool for many years. Because of its use as a traditional daycare, the one-acre property was somewhat ready for use for another purpose: Montessori.
Since its humble beginnings with 15 children, NWM has grown its enrollment, expanding to serve 80 children ages 3 months to 6 years old.
History of Nature's Way Montessori
With a parking lot, two play yards and a 4000 sq. ft. building. NWM was born. We opened with 15 children.
Within a month, the new Montessori classroom was full with 25 children, and we created a Toddler classroom that met the demand of our waitlist. By the Fall of 2013, NWM had 30 children. In the summer of 2014, Monica stepped out of the classroom. That summer we created a second preschool classroom. For the fall of 2014, NWM opened with 52 children and still had a long waiting list.
In January 2015 Monica purchased the LLC from the owner. It was a busy year as she was learning to run a business and creating a 501-c-3 corporation to raise money for scholarships. The school grew and in the Fall 2016, the school opened an elementary program. In Spring of 2020 Covid came and our program ended as we lost our teacher.
With a brave new beginning, we opened our first infant classroom and have never looked back.
NWM has strong parental support, a great reputation around town, and a wonderful program. Monica, along with her great staff and the NWM families are assured of a strong and healthy institution, dedicated to the education and development of the whole child. The school’s type of meaningful and life changing experiences through Montessori lessons, paves the way so that the students will grow and leave here, to shape the future of Napa, and the world around them.
History of Montessori Schools
The history of Montessori schools began in the early 20th century with the foundation of Casa dei Bambini, or "Children's House," by Dr. Maria Montessori in Rome, Italy, in 1907. This first Montessori school was established in a low-income district of Rome, serving as a community center and educational experiment for young children.
The success of Casa dei Bambini, marked by the remarkable learning achievements of its students, led to the rapid spread of Montessori's educational approach. Montessori schools proliferated across the globe, adapting to various cultural contexts while maintaining the core principles of self-directed learning, mixed-age classrooms, and specially designed educational materials.
The Montessori Method challenged traditional educational models by emphasizing respect for a child's natural psychological development and the importance of a prepared environment that fosters independence.
Today, Montessori schools operate worldwide, serving children from infancy through adolescence, and continue to be recognized for their innovative approach to education that nurtures the holistic development of the child.
Montessori in the USA
The history of Montessori education in America began in the early 20th century, notably with the establishment of the first Montessori school in the United States in 1911. Dr. Maria Montessori's educational approach quickly gained popularity among American educators and intellectuals, capturing the attention of influential figures such as Alexander Graham Bell, who became a staunch supporter.
Bell and his wife Mabel helped to found the Montessori Educational Association in Washington, D.C., in 1913. However, by the 1920s, the Montessori movement in the U.S. experienced a decline due in part to the rise of new educational theories and misinterpretations of Montessori's methods.
It wasn't until the 1950s and 1960s that Montessori education saw a revival in America, spurred by Nancy McCormick Rambusch, who was instrumental in reintroducing Montessori methods to the country. She founded the American Montessori Society in 1960, which played a crucial role in training teachers and spreading Montessori schools across the nation. Since then, Montessori education has grown steadily in the U.S., with schools now serving children from infancy through high school, recognized for fostering independent learning and creativity.