The set up of this event is in a circle, just like the world and each table has a color that represents one of the seven continents on a Montessori globe. All of the tables are filled to the brim with food and information about different countries. Many families represent their own heritage with so much pride and openness. While other families are seeking out a new favorite ethnic treat. Many people asked the preschool teacher from India , Prathima Srinidhi where to find the best Indian food in Denver and her response “My house!” This event is just like going to Prathima’s house for Indian food and then to Monarch’s chef, Ana Simental house for Mexican food and so on and on! It is having the very best food from around the world made in the kitchens of people who learned authentic recipes from being pasted down from generation to generation.
Monarch Montessori of Denver
Monday, November 12, 2012
Peace and Harmony at Monarch’s International Peace Festival
Monday, October 15, 2012
Individualized Instruction Versus Factory Style Learning
When you think back to your years in school, you may think of the teachers in the front of the class going on and on and on about a lesson. After that you were handed a work sheet or asked to open your text book and answer questions to turn in to the teacher to be graded. Then you were given homework to review the lesson. And finally, you had a quiz to validate your retention of the lesson and if you did poorly, “Oh Well” move on to the next lesson anyway. If you can relate, then you were not in a Montessori school. The Montessori Method, developed over a hundred years ago by Maria Montessori, is a hands-on individualized style of learning. That means every student works with enticing manipulatives at their own pace!
Think about how different every 7 year old is and the strengths and weaknesses each one possesses. In a Montessori classroom every child is working at their own pace and that 7 year old also has classmates that are 6 and 8 years old. Lines of age-appropriate expectations are blurred and pressure to perform is reduced in this multi-aged setting. A classroom community is formed where strengths are encouraged and weaknesses are supported by not only the teacher but classmates too!
Montessori teachers are trained to manage a full classroom of students, monitor their progress and allow them plenty opportunities for growth. Montessori teachers learn to teach multiple grades to accommodate all the way from low to high learners without the labels of learning disability or gifted. Emily Farley, Kindergarten teacher at Monarch Montessori of Denver Charter said, “Classrooms are not driven by norms, but by the pace of each child and this allows students as much time needed to understand a lesson.” When asked about the differences for Montessori verses traditional Emily stated, “It requires more organization, longer planning time, since I am planning for each child and I observe to record progress for each child rather than grading completed work.”
Individualize Instruction is a sure-fire way to keep a child from falling through the educational cracks. Learning plans are developed for every single child to succeed whether they have learning disabilities, highly gifted or anywhere in between. At Monarch Montessori of Denver we pride ourselves in providing a security net for all children.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Doors and Minds Open at Monarch Montessori of Denver Charter!
Monarch Montessori of Denver Charter officially opened their doors with a K-2 charter for families interested in an alternative to traditional learning in the Far Northeast Region of Denver. August 14th marked an exciting day for the Monarch team and Founding families who had worked for over a year, to open this August.
Monarch Montessori of Denver Charter is the very first Montessori Charter in DPS. Great excitement exists around offering a program that usually comes with a price tag that rivals college tuition, but Monarch is free! The student population at Monarch is a beautiful mix of diversity coming from all over the Denver area, Commerce City and Aurora too.
The Montessori Teaching method is self- paced, hands-on learning style that is taught by teachers specially trained. The community environment began from day one with students working independently and together as they learned their first Montessori lessons.
The highly educated and talented team of teachers that Ms. Radkiewicz has put together comes with 115 years of combined experience teaching Montessori. Two of the classrooms have interns from Montessori Educational Center of the Rockies (MECR). They have completed their methods course work and now must complete one year as an intern to become certified.
Monarch knows they have a true gem and day one proved that fact. They know that in years to come, Monarch will be THE sought after school that the Far North East Region needed.
Monday, June 25, 2012
One Growing School Has Two New Names!
One growing school, has two new names! Having just completed our second school year, Monarch Montessori is a private school for infants, toddlers and preschool age students. Since being approved in mid-March by Denver Public Schools Board of Directors, to open a public elementary school of choice they have chosen to delineate the two schools located at the same location on
East 45th Avenue
, by changing their names.
The highly successful private school that serves children from six weeks to five years of age will now be doing business as First Steps at Monarch Montessori of Denver . The Montessori Method is based on extensive research, by Dr. Maria Montessori that correlates a child’s movement and cognition. First Steps seemed like a natural name, when suggested by Infant and Toddler Director, Noel Giametta. “Everyday I see young children learning to walk, then learn to maneuver around their classrooms. It is exciting to be part of that developmental stage!”
“We searched the internet to make sure we would be the only Montessori school in Colorado using that name”, Noel reports.
The public elementary school of choice will be Monarch Montessori of Denver Charter (MMDC). Monarch Montessori of Denver Charter (MMDC) will be opening its doors August 14, 2012 with Kindergarten, First and Second grades. Each year after that they will add a new grade until they have K-5th grades! The elementary school will be free with the exception of Kindergarten, which will follow DPS full-day tuition rates. Monarch is located in the Far North East region of Denver easily accessible by the interstate from I-70 and Peoria .
Both schools will follow the authentic Montessori that Montessori veterans Sergy Brin and Larry Page (co-founders of Google) experienced as children. The Montessori Method is a hands-on approach to learning. The sky is the limit with a Montessori education and Monarch Montessori of Denver Charter is excited to offer this opportunity to all children in Denver !
Parents hoping to have their children develop a “the love of learning” that will stay with them through adulthood, are encouraged to check-out our website, stop by Monarch for a tour, and let us show you the difference. http://www.monarchm.com/,
11200 E 45th Ave. Denver CO 80239
.
Monday, February 6, 2012
You've Come A Long Way Baby!
Monarch Montessori of Denver opened its doors in April 2010 with 90 students and has grown to 200 students almost two years later. Many of those students had a Montessori head start in other programs and now are successful, independent, self-guided pre-school students at Monarch.

Lisa Avery Krug had this to say about her daughter, “Choosing a Montessori education was the perfect platform for Campbell 's launch into academia. It was amazing to see Campbell transform from this dependent little infant into a self assured, self reliant and self confident preschooler.”
The Montessori Method has been implemented all over the world for over 100 years and it works for all types of learners. Montessori was originally developed in
When Lisa was asked about the growth she has seen she responded. “Over the years, we have observed Campbell grow into a collaborator, who is respectful of her community, and someone who takes pride in her own individual accomplishments. My husband and I will often stand back silently and observe Campbell growing into a budding leader who has been groomed to look beyond her own personal limitations. This is because of Montessori's multi-age grouping where she once was the mentee, and now she is the mentor. Who would have thought that these kids would be developing leadership skills so young?! With that role, there is a certain level of maturity that I certainly didn't expect from a child so young. This is directly attributable to the kind of environment that she is in. A traditional (school) environment can appear very linear (i.e. You go to school and the teacher has an agenda and the children follow that agenda. The End.) On the other hand, a Montessori environment encourages the children to create their own agenda for the day, thereby taking responsibility for their own actions. For our daughters, it allowed them to figure things out, encouraging curiosity but without imposing a ceiling. Ultimately, this builds such a great sense of self, which is so important in the early years.”
Montessori follows the child’s level of learning, so there is no comparing of children of the same age. This alleviates any stigma associated with learning. Learning becomes a self exploratory experience guided by the teacher. Pre-school teacher and Director of Primary, Tori Virlee said, “Every child benefits from the Montessori environment and philosophy even when starting after the age of three. However, it is amazing to watch a child with the Montessori foundation from infants and toddlers come into the pre-school environment. Imagine what a three year old with a strong foundation of order, concentration, coordination and independence can accomplish in the following years. These children learn without limits.”
If you are interested in learning more about the Montessori Method, there are many books and websites that can give you the basics, but to really see the proof in the pudding, you have to see with your own eyes. You will be amazed!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Peace, Love and Montessori

Hayde is an amazing teacher at Monarch and also is the Spanish speaking voice on interviews with KBNO radio. She is helping spread the word about our elementary charter plans for fall of 2012 to all the Spanish speaking families.
Nancy Radkiewicz, Principal of Monarch Montessori said, ”Hayde is the epitome of a creative soul. She brings a peaceful energy to her room everyday.”
Living a very natural, peace loving lifestyle, Hayde Mitchell is a true example of the kind of person Maria Montessori would love to be around. Along with photography, Hayde has many creative pursuits in painting, drawing, acroyoga (blending of yoga and acrobatics), yoga, and of course her first love…dancing!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Traditional Teacher Chooses Montessori

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