The Del Ray Montessori School is a non-profit Montessori School located in the quaint Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia, we are associated and recognized by AMI/USA (Association Montessori International). Founded in 2011, we serve children ages 18 months through age 12 and their families in the DC metropolitan area.
The Del Ray Montessori School strives to ensure that each child has the resources, tools, and support they need to excel at their own pace. Given the individualized nature of educational instruction at DRMS, our teachers are able to work with students who may excel in certain subject areas, without conventional limits being placed on a child’s learning progression. Additionally, at DRMS, supporting our children and families when learning challenges arise is crucial to ensuring our students have what they need to be able to do their best. To meet these needs, we have a Resource Specialist on staff that helps students and families gain insight and develop strategies concerning learning differences. We use an array of approaches and tools within our Montessori curriculum to identify student needs and to generate and implement effective plans for individualized student learning and well-being.
As we know based on recent research, opportunities for movement throughout the day are crucial to helping young children to learn and stay focused while at school. At DRMS, we have created a movement program to respond to the need for movement breaks that children require throughout the day. All DRMS students have access to movement materials, flexible seating options, and activities that they can utilize anytime throughout the day to help manage extra energy and movement needs. This program was designed by our Resource Specialist on staff to complement our Montessori curriculum.
Our Resource Specialist works with school administration, school faculty, and families to understand the individual needs of students, to identify community resources, to collaborate and make referrals when necessary, and to implement strategies for student success.
In addition to our Resource Specialist, our DRMS faculty and staff have been trained and certified in the following areas to support the emotional, social and academic development of our students.
Positive Discipline is an approach that focuses on creating a positive social-emotional environment where children are given the tools to develop respectful relationships and practice responsibility.
Orton-Gillingham. This multi sensory approach to literacy focuses on improving reading, writing and spelling skills.
