Practical Life

Children love to do activities which help them to take care of themselves. Often we hear "I can do it myself". It is the function of the adult to show the child how to do things within the limits of their abilities. Shoe polishing, sweeping, table washing, buttoning, and pouring seem like mundane activities, but this practical work, repeated many times, helps children develop coordination, concentration and the ability to pay attention. No learning takes place without concentration and attention. This is why many scholars consider Practical Life the most important of all the Montessori exercises.

Daily living activities provides work to the child in a prepared and orderly environment, and builds the foundation for future cognitive and muscle development. Practical Life cultivates independence and order. These principles are ones we use for the rest of our lives and come natural to the child as long as we do not interfere and that we allow him to repeat as many times as he wishes.

When it came to choosing a preschool for my grandson, we could think of no more perfect place than the sylvan setting of Hunter Mill Montessori. At Hunter MIll Montessori, parents and grandparents alike can see students expand their horizons as they learn academics, social skills and independence. We couldn't be more pleased!

Pier Stock McGrath

Our family chose HMMS not only because it was recommended by all of our neighbors (and we have a lots of them) but once you step into the school, you can feel the warmth of the school community and its teachers. Our three sons attended HMMS and have far exceeded our expectations, socially, and educationally. 

The Woltz Family

Both of our kids went through the full program including Kindergarten and we could not have been happier with it. The kids loved school and Mrs. Cook and the rest of the teaching staff were engaged, responsive, and so clearly cared about all the kids. 

We chose [the school] nearly decade ago after touring many other local schools. We found its student/teacher ratio, cleanliness and educational program to be the best fit for our three children. As a working parent, I wanted a place where my child safe and cared for, while learning in an environment that met each of their different needs. 

Holly Brook Montessori School was an incredible experience for our son. He is ahead in math in elementary school, has great social skills, and is very respectful to his teachers. I give all of this credit to HB for helping to make him a well-rounded individual. Can't wait for our second to attend.
Dominique

We were part of the Holly Brook family for 6 years. Our boys learned so many useful skills from math, reading, independence, and public speaking that set them up for success. One of the reasons we picked the school was due to how well they welcome international families and how open they are to learn about other cultures and traditions and incorporate them into their curriculum. We highly recommend this preschool, you will not regret it. - Sara