OUTDOOR CLASSROOM
Students can choose to work with Montessori materials in the classroom courtyards or practice natural gross motor movements, such as balancing on a beam or walking a labyrinth.
Wildscape
Students have many opportunities to explore our 5-acre wildscape, learning about plants, insects, and other wildlife who visit this wondrous space.
GARDENING AND ANIMAL CARE
Our students fully engage in caring for our pig, Rufus, and our chickens on a daily basis. Students are also active participants in planting, maintaining, and growing fruits and vegetables in our gardens.
Nontraditional Learning
Children thrive in both our indoor and outdoor classrooms where curiosity about the world drives them to learn. We provide professional guidance, the prepared environment, and scientifically developed materials for children to live
up to their full potential.
Learning Happens through purposeful activity
Children work with specially designed learning materials, manipulating and investigating them to master the lessons they embody.
abstract ideas in concrete form
Children use real objects to translate abstract ideas into concrete form. The example above, the binomial cube, physically represents a mathematical equation, which is (a + b)³ = (a + b) (a + b) (a + b) = a³ + 3a²b + 3ab² + b³.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR Outdoor learning
We are lucky to have a safe and secure 13-acre campus which provides students with many opportunities to work and play outside. Each classroom also has an exterior door, so students have access to the prepared outdoor learning environment daily.
Committed professionals
Our committed and credentialed professionals foster a child’s cognitive, physical, and social/emotional well-being, leading children to become enthusiastic, intrinsically motivated learners.
TMA at a Glance
Our Global Community
With students and staff members representing more than 20 countries, we consider TMA to be a small-scale global community.
Highly Committed Teachers
29% of our teachers are in their second decade of service at TMA, while the average tenure of lead classroom teachers at TMA is 9 years. The average tenure of all teaching staff at TMA is 7.5 years.
Accreditation
TMA is fully accredited by the American Montessori Society. We are 1 of only 4 fully accredited schools in the DFW area. There are only 11 schools in Texas that hold this level of accreditation.
“The child who has never learned to work by himself, to set goals for his own acts, or to be the master of his own force of will is recognizable in the adult who lets others guide his will and feels a constant need for approval of others.”
– Maria Montessori, Education and Peace
A Walk through Early Childhood
What does a typical day look like?
Indoor Classroom
Students engage in academic and other purposeful work using hands-on, scientifically developed materials.
Outdoor Classroom
Students engage in academic work, gardening, animal care, gross motor development, and imaginative play.
TMA Programs
Lower and Upper School
Developmental stages of learning are at the core of a Montessori education. Our Lower School is designed for children between 6 weeks and 6 years of age, and our Upper School is for children between 6 and 12 years old. Within each school, there are programs designed to enhance learning for each specific developmental stage.
Process vs. Product Based Learning
The Lower School provides a prepared Montessori environment and curriculum which encourages self-directed, experiential learning, where children are learning how to learn, in preparation for the elementary years.
The Upper School focuses on more product and project-based learning with expectations of mastery. Students work independently, cooperatively, and collaboratively to develop the Portrait of a Graduate attributes. The teacher works as a guide to create an academic work plan based on observations of individual student progress from which children can choose how to schedule their day and follow their interests. While all programs at TMA are authentically Montessori and aligned with AMS accreditation standards, there are unique elements that have been added to the Elementary program that facilitate the transition of students to more traditional educational settings once they leave TMA.
LOWER SCHOOL
Infant – 6 weeks to 18 months
Toddler – 18 months to 3 years
Early Childhood – 3 to 6 years
UPPER SCHOOL
Lower Elementary – 6-9 years
Upper Elementary – 9-12 years
Lower School
INFANT
The program supports both younger and older infants in a peaceful, nurturing environment designed to support the growth and development of the whole child.
We welcome infants beginning at six weeks of age through 18 months, safely structuring their surroundings to accommodate infants that are non-mobile, as well as those who are beginning to walk.
TODDLER
Each of our toddler environments is prepared with developmentally appropriate materials and activities that support the child’s natural development. The two main areas of focus in this program are the development of language and learning the skills for independence and social interaction.
Our Toddler Program welcomes children between 18 months and 3 years old.
EARLY CHILDHOOD
The Early Childhood Program at TMA is a three year curriculum which includes children in the age range of 3 to 6 years (preschool – kindergarten). It offers students a combination of challenging academics and extensive enrichment experiences through daily hands-on activities.
LOWER ELEMENTARY
The three-year curriculum is designed so that children revisit, build on, and deepen their understanding of many broad topics with each encounter increasing in complexity and reinforcing previous learning.
UPPER ELEMENTARY
We build upon skills introduced in the Lower Elementary program and strengthen skills in leadership, collaboration, problem-solving, critical thinking, conflict resolution, organization, and time management.
A Peek Inside
Early Childhood Multiplication Board
Elem & Early Childhood Reading Buddies
Upper Elementary Decimal Multiplication
Early Childhood Sandpaper Letters
Infant Peer Interactions
Early Childhood Preparing Snack
Lower Elementary Botany
Toddler Transferring
Early Childhood Wet Pouring
Infant Imbucare
Early Childhood Easel Painting
FAQs
We have gathered some of the most frequently asked questions in one place to make finding information easier for prospective parents. This information is covered in greater detail in our Family Guide or other locations of our website. We encourage prospective families to read through these questions and sign up for a visit to find out even more details about our programs.
We are open between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The school day is from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, with Before Care from 7:00-8:30 am and Extended Day from 3:30-4:30 pm or Extended Day Plus from 3:30-6:00 pm.
Our Tuition and Fee Schedule is available online. Please note that the $300 application fee is fully refundable until an enrollment contract is signed.
Yes. Tuition can be paid in-full or on a monthly basis. If parents choose to pay on a monthly basis, parents are required to purchase tuition insurance, which is 2.6% of the annual tuition, paid one time each year with each new contract, and is due with your first tuition payment in May.
Yes. Our enrollment contracts cover an entire year, offering options for a traditional school year of 10 months or a year-round, 12-month option. If you are admitted after the beginning of a school year, your tuition is pro-rated based on when you enroll. There is a 3-week trial for students enrolled in our Lower School.
Each new school year begins in August and closely follows the Arlington ISD school calendar. We offer enrollment throughout the school year on a space-available basis, with tuition being pro-rated for those who start later in the year.
Our ratios vary by program:
— Infant – 1:4 (2 teachers for 8 students)
— Toddler – 1:8 (2 teachers for 16 students)
— Early Childhood – 1:12 (2 teachers to 24 students)
— Elementary – 1:18 (1 teacher for up to 18 students)
While these are the minimum ratios, we have an additional teacher available for each of the Infant, Toddler, and Early Childhood classrooms throughout the day. Elementary students also participate in Enrichment classes with Enrichment Specialist teachers.
All families provide their own healthy lunch options for their children.
Parents provide snacks and lunch for children enrolled in the Infant program.
A few times each year, families with students enrolled in the Toddler and Early Childhood programs will receive a list of groceries to purchase to bring for the classroom snack. As part of the Practical Life work in class, students will prepare snack each day.
Elementary students will bring snacks for themselves each day.
The nap schedule for infants is individualized and based on an infant’s age and need.
Toddlers and 3- and 4-year-old Early Childhood students take a nap in the afternoon, after lunch.
Early Childhood students who are 5-years-old take part in special enrichment classes and have another work cycle in the afternoon.
Parents of children with diagnosed allergies or asthma are required to provide the school with an individualized health care plan, signed by the child’s medical provider. A list of children with medically documented food allergies is posted in every classroom throughout the school, and a list of the classroom allergens is posted outside of each room.
TMA was established as a parent cooperative and, as such, requires parental involvement. Not only does community service help to build stronger bonds between community members, but it also provides excellent modeling for the volunteerism that we wish to instill in our students.
Parents pay a Community Service Fee of $300 each year, $150 for the fall term and $150 for the spring term. If one or more members of your family volunteer at TMA for 5 hours each semester or 10 hours for the year, you will be refunded the entirety of the Community Service Fee, or you may contribute it to the Scholarship Fund.
To protect the health of all children and to satisfy state regulations, current medical information for each child is required prior to enrollment. These records, which must meet state immunization and hearing and vision screening requirements, need to be updated when new screenings or immunizations are given. An annual physical is required for children in the Infant, Toddler and Early Childhood programs.
The state of Texas allows certain immunization exemptions and we follow all state guidelines.
Several forms of communication are used to meet the needs of our community. These include email, texting, phone calls, written documentation, parent/teacher conferences, a parent portal on our website, a closed Facebook group, and Bloomz, a photo/video sharing app so parents can catch glimpses of the work their children are completing.
We produce a weekly e-newsletter to keep parents informed about school-wide activities and events which is available via email, text, our closed Facebook group, the parent portal, and through Bloomz.
For infants, in additional to daily, in-person communication, teachers record when diapers were changed, meals/snacks were eaten, and naps were taken in the Bloomz app.
Injuries will be promptly treated by a staff member and parents will be notified either by telephone or through a copy of a completed Accident/Incident Report form. Parents will receive a short report which documents how, when, and where and accident or incident occurred.
Students are prepared to succeed wherever they go for middle school. The elementary program provides opportunities for students to practice time management, collaboration, and problem-solving skills on a daily basis, enabling them to adapt to their new schools, whether private, public, or parochial. Want to hear directly from alumni how their transitions were? Check out our Alumni Thoughts page!
Can’t Visit in Person?
If you can’t visit in person, check out our photo and video highlights to acquaint yourself with what happens on campus.
Lower School PHOTO & VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
See what happens in our Infant, Toddler, and Early Childhood classrooms.
Upper School PHOTO & VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
See what happens in our Lower and Upper Elementary classrooms.
What do parents say about TMA?
We are happy with TMA, my child has been attending the school and he has learned so much. The school environment is clean and has so much for my son who loves to be in outdoors. Teachers and the administrators are helpful.
Great Schools
After touring over a dozen preschools, TMA came out on top for us. We love the focus on teaching important life skills and building character, not just behavior. The teachers interact with the students in a way that helps them to become independent and thoughtful little people.
Google Reviews
This is a GEM in the middle of the metroplex, with acres of nature surrounding the school. Kids are given a unique opportunity to experience and enjoy nature in a caring environment, while learning so much, both in and out of the classroom. Our child really likes it here.
Niche Reviews
TMA is a great school that helps students gain independence, learn concepts deeply, and become well-rounded citizens of the world. The teachers are dedicated, and the campus is beautiful and inviting. TMA is a great place to be!
Private School Review
4 Easy Steps to Admission
Our admissions team will lead you through the entire process to answer your questions and provide all the information you need so your family can make an informed decision about whether TMA is the right choice for your child and your family. We understand that choosing the right school is an extremely important decision and we will be here to guide you through the decision-making process.
Schedule a Visit
All of our visits are scheduled online and held during the morning hours so visitors can observe students during their morning work cycle. We will discuss the Tuition and Fee Schedule as well as the admissions process.
Apply Online
Complete an online application and submit $300 application fee. The application fee is fully refundable until an enrollment contract is signed.
A 3-day classroom evaluation will be scheduled for students applying for a space in the Elementary program; a 3-week trial may instead be offered during the summer months when an evaluation is not possible.
Meet with the Head of School
During the 1½ hour meeting, “fit and match” between the family’s expectations for their child and TMA’s vision is explored and information about the classroom evaluation (if applicable) and a detailed tuition payment schedule will be discussed.
Complete Online Enrollment
Upon acceptance to TMA, the enrollment process begins with a contract being offered. The Application Fee becomes non-refundable after we receive your contract. Once we have received your online enrollment and first tuition payment, your enrollment is complete.
Important Dates
Gallery of Student Work
Toddler - Gardening
Maria Montessori designed the Practical Life Curriculum to teach children concentration, independence, and a great love for work. She discovered that children have an innate need to imitate the activities of adults, as this is their way of learning about their role within society and their environment. Practical Life exercises are designed to meet this need by providing children with the skills to move and manipulate materials independently. Through contributions in the classroom, home, and the wider community, children gain a sense of independence and satisfaction in what they have achieved. In effect, this provides children with the building blocks for positive self-esteem and a sense of place within their society. Our toddlers recently updated their classroom courtyards for the spring, giving them a sense of ownership of their space as well as accomplishment when they see their seeds flourish or when the birds visit the feeder.
#gardening #practicallife #purposefulactivity #focus #order #concentration #coordination #independence #handsonlearning #loveoflearning #intrinsicmotivation #tma #montessori #privateschool #arlingtontx #arlington #texas #infant #nido #toddler #earlychildhood #preschool #kindergarten #elementary #education #privateeducation #nontraditional #themontessoriacademyofarlington
Early Childhood Kindergarten - Division Bead Board
Division while in Kindergarten?? With the Montessori approach, math can be fun while also challenging! The Montessori division board introduces children to the concept of division by allowing them to explore it in a concrete way, as they learn to "share" the beads equally between the skittles at the top of the board. They will be able to check their own work by making sure there are no leftover beads without relying on an adult. Once they have mastered division problems with no remainder, they can move on to equations that will have a remainder and will be able to self-correct if they notice the remainder is larger than the dividend. Dr. Maria Montessori believed that children absorb and retain information for prolonged periods when they learn through hands-on activities with concrete materials. Young children appreciate the repetitive nature of the materials, which gives them plenty of opportunities to practice and internalize the concept before moving on to dividing numbers abstractly.
#concretetoabstract #mathisfun #division #handsonlearning #experientiallearning #order #concentration #coordination #independence #focus #tma #montessori #privateschool #arlingtontx #arlington #texas #infant #nido #toddler #earlychildhood #preschool #kindergarten #elementary #education #privateeducation #nontraditional #themontessoriacademyofarlington
Elementary - Freedom of Movement
Maria Montessori's philosophy to follow the child is clearly illustrated here as we appreciate the fact that not every child learns the same way, providing opportunities for students to find what works best for their success each day. The importance of freedom of movement is evident in our younger classroom environments as students gain gross motor control and coordination. However, this doesn't end when students transition to elementary. Students are given the choice to work on the floor at a rug, kneel at a small desk, move around a table while standing, or sit at an outdoor table. This power of choice allows children to find what works best for them so they may maintain focus and concentration.
#movement #flexibleseating #learningstyles #purposefulactivty #freedomofmovement #order #concentration #coordination #independence #intrinsicmotivation #tma #montessori #privateschool #arlingtontx #arlington #texas #infant #nido #toddler #earlychildhood #preschool #kindergarten #elementary #education #privateeduction #nontraditional #themontessoriacademyofarlington
Mentorship in the Montessori Classroom
Among the many benefits of a mixed-age classroom is the chance for older students to become mentors to their peers. This not only builds confidence and leadership skills, but reinforces their previous knowledge when they are able to pass it on to others. In the infant and toddler classrooms, this happens naturally as the younger students often enjoy, and even seek out their older peers to observe their work. As they transition to the Early Childhood classroom, they are given the chance to give lessons and quiz each others' knowledge. In one picture, one student is reading puzzle sight words from the stack so that another student can find them solely by sound. In another picture, one older student gives a lesson on tik-tac-toe to some younger peers while on in the outdoor classroom. A sixth grader even had the opportunity to mentor some Early Childhood students while handling their classroom hermit crab. These experiences are incredibly valuable and enrich our school's sense of community and cooperation.
#intrinsicmotivation #cognitivestimulation #collaboration #leadership #learnfrompeers #socialskills #independence #mentor #mixedageclassroom #tma #montessori #privateschool #arlingtontx #arlington #texas #infant #nido #toddler #earlychildhood #preschool #kindergarten #elementary #education #privateeducation #nontradtional #themontessoriacademyofarlington
Toddler - Animal Print Match
This toddler student is very focused as he works on matching a close-up photo of each animal to the picture of the whole animal. This material helps children develop concentration and visual discrimination as they use their executive functioning to compare the patterns at different perspectives. Development of concentration at such a young age prepares the students for more complex tasks as they progress through the curriculum, preparing them for academic success and building their self-confidence and a positive self-image.
#matching #visualdiscrimination #handsonlearning #purposefulactivity #order #concentration #coordination #independence #intrinsicmotivation #selfconfidence #academicsuccess #tma #montessori #privateschool #arlingtontx #alrington #texas #infant #nido #toddler #earlychildhood #preschool #kindergarten #elementary #education #privateeducation #nontraditional #themontessoriacademofarlington
Upper Elementary - Squares and Square Roots
As the Upper Elementary students approach middle school age, they are introduced to algebraic concepts like square roots, balancing equations, and polynomials. Through the Montessori approach, they can visualize these concepts by manipulating concrete materials that will help them more fully grasp the concepts. This student is very focused, using the Square Root Peg Board to build the square of 27 in single units (green pegs), and then exchanging them with the blue pegs, which represent ten units each. Once she has exchanged it, she will be able to clearly see the root. This material helps students understand more complex math concepts thoroughly before transitioning to working through them more abstractly on pen and paper.
#algebra #arithmetic #mathisfun #handsonlearning #concretetoabstract #order #concentration #coordination #independence #academicallyprepared #confidentlearner #competentlearner #tma #montessori #privateschool #arlingtontx #arlington #texas #infant #nido #toddler #earlychildhood #preschool #kindergarten #elementary #education #privateeducation #nontraditional #themontessoriacademyofarlington
Early Childhood - Nomenclature Cards: Human Anatomy
Montessori Nomenclature cards are used for classifying and building vocabulary and concepts in all subject areas. Also known as 3-part cards, this material is made up of a control card, which has the picture and word on the same card, and individual pictures and labels. Students then match the individual pictures and labels to the correct control card, providing for in-depth visual discrimination practice and independence, as students do not need to ask the teacher for help to check their work. For this 4-year-old student, the teachers have extended the work to include realistic objects and word tracing, adding layers of complexity to the work.
#humananatomy #3partcards #handsonlearning #language #purposefulactivity #alwayslearning #order #concentration #coordination #independence #tma #montessori #privateschool #arlingtontx #arlington #texas #infant #nido #toddler #earlychildhood #preschool #kindergarten #elementary #education #privateeducation #nontraditional #themontessoriacademyofarlington
Early Childhood - Outdoor Classroom
Springtime brings rain, and rain brings fun! Exploring nature at a young age aligns with children’s natural instincts to be scientists and explorers. The outdoors gives them an opportunity to use things they can physically see, feel, and experience to introduce science in a way that is meaningful to them. Here, the children enjoy the sandbox and barefoot creek after a rainy night by building and balancing on bridges, creating dams, and of course, playing in puddles!
"Let the children be free; encourage them; let them run outside when it is raining; let them remove their shoes when they find a puddle of water; and, when the grass of the meadows is damp with dew, let them run on it and trample it with their bare feet; let them rest peacefully when a tree invites them to sleep beneath it's shade; let them shout and laugh when the sun wakes them in the morning as it wakes every living creature that divides its day between waking and sleeping."
--Maria Montessori
#barefootcreek #contactwithnature #beautyofnature #explorethenaturalworld #handsonlearning #purposefulactivity #independence #creativethinker #tma #montessori #privateschool #arlingtontx #arlington #texas #infant #nido #toddler #earlychildhood #preschool #kindergarten #elementary #education #privateeducation #nontraditional #themontessoriacademyofarlington
Early Childhood - Metal Insets
Look at that focus and precision! The Metal Insets are a delightful way for a child to prepare for writing. Children use a colored pencil to carefully trace shapes, which helps to develop the fine motor control needed to write small letters. Creating patterns and designs is a secondary goal, but also increases a child’s ability to manipulate a pencil. Perhaps most importantly, this work has many variations and possibilities, and can capture any child’s interest for an extended period of time.
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Early Childhood - Language: Puzzle (Sight) Words
This child is very focused in finding the word she has been told by her teacher. The teacher pronounces one of the puzzle words, and the student looks at the choices in front of her to find the correct word, bringing it back to show the choice. If it is correct, she will be told another word and the process repeats. Once children have mastered this set of words, the next set is introduced. Students must use many skills to be successful, listening closely as the teacher says the word, remembering the word as they are walking back to their workspace, visually reviewing the remaining words, and finally sounding out the word to make the correct choice. This work is essential for young children, so they have a rich internal dictionary at their command.
These puzzle words do not follow specific phonetic rules but are necessary for communication and need to be memorized.
#sightwords #memorization #reading #handsonlearning #alwayslearning #purposefulactivity #tma #montessori #privateshool #arlingtontx #arlington #texas #infant #nido #toddler #earlychildhood #preschool #kindergarten #elementary #education #privateeducation #nontraditional #themontessoriacademyofarlington
It is the policy of The Montessori Academy to maintain a school environment that is free from discrimination and to conduct its educational practices, admissions program, financial aid policies, hiring, and other school-administrative programs on the basis of an individual’s qualifications and abilities. The Montessori Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (unless it is required as a bona fide occupational qualification), sex, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
