Lehigh Valley Montessori Academy, LLC

Without a doubt, LVMA is the absolute best education you can give to your 2-6 year old child in the greater Lehigh Valley area.  My husband and I both work in higher education and researched all the available options, including more expensive private schools, before choosing LVMA.  Our 4 year old daughter has been enrolled in their Primary (pre-K) program, in which she has thrived in every way.  The teachers and program have nurtured and gently challenged her, and she is excited to go to school every day; in fact, she has asked us not to pick her up to leave until the last possible minute, because she wants to be the last one to go home.  We can see that she is more confident, self-directed, socially and emotionally mature, and able to work in a focused and independent way than before she enrolled in the program.  The small size of the school, in particular, combined with the individualized attention that is given to each child through the combined efforts of the staff, have allowed our daughter to be challenged in creative, practical, and developmentally appropriate ways in an environment in which she is completely comfortable.  Our daughter is very proud of her accomplishments (e.g., the "spindle boxes") and we feel that she has always been appropriately challenged, encouraged, and never bored. I visited the school on several occasions and observed Miss Michelle, the school's founder and director and head Primary teacher, bring Maria Montessori's vision alive in a way that we feel best exemplifies the spirit of Montessori education.  Miss Michelle not only has the training and experience, but the passion and vision to make Montessori education really work.  She is a gifted teacher; she is sensitive, patient, loving, kind-hearted, thoughtful, enthusiastic, dedicated, knowledgeable, methodical, and an exemplary role model for the children, staff, and parents.  She, together with all the staff, including Miss Lisa, the head pre-Primary teacher, along with Miss Stacie, Miss Leena, and Miss Erin, work together to nurture each individual child.  They all take seriously the task of helping to build, in collaboration with the parents, a foundation for lifelong habits of mind and character.  They encourage each child to develop and strengthen their self-respect and respect for others.  The program that Miss Michelle has developed also emphasizes cultural and artistic literacy.  For example, our daughter has learned about Diwali and Christmas celebrations around the world, along with art and music appreciation.  Educational and fun field trips are designed to enhance the curriculum.  Weekly themes are well thought-out and coherent over the course of the year.  For example, the Columbus Day and Martin Luther King Day holidays are used to introduce the children to relevant historical figures, geography, indigenous plants and animals, and concepts such as peace.  Miss Michelle communicates with the parents regularly and clearly about the curriculum and how their children are doing. In short, LVMA is a truly special place.  Any child who goes to LVMA is lucky.  We really think that it's the individual people who matter the most when it comes to any kind of educational philosophy, and Miss Michelle and her staff have exceeded our expectations.  We have also enjoyed being a part of the small and warm community of families with children there.  We have to move out of the area due to work and the worst thing about moving is leaving LVMA.  There are other Montessori schools out there, but there is ONLY ONE LVMA!  We really think that if you live in the area and have pre-school and/or Kindergarten-age chidren, you owe it to yourself and your child(ren) to visit the school and see if it is a good fit.  It is more than worth it.