Where does the acronym “LEAP” come from?

L-E-A-P is acronym for “Leaders Exploring Aspiring Promise”. The name was thought up by Ms. Griffin when she was young and then later in college with a friend while they were thinking of fun ways to help children in their community. The name stuck and we love it!

 What does “Authentic Montessori” mean?

There are a couple myths that should be cleared up.  Not all schools that claim to be “Montessori” are the same.  There is not a patent on the name “Montessori”.  The truth is that 70% of the schools in North America that claim to be “Montessori” are not accredited and do not have Montessori trained teachers.  The school might be very well intentioned and might be a good school, but the requirements for an authentic Montessori school are clear:

*All teachers must be Montessori trained for the ages and classrooms they are teaching

*All classrooms must be fully equipped

*Montessori materials must come from an approved manufacturer

*There must be a 3-hour uninterrupted morning work cycle and a 2-hour afternoon uninterrupted work cycle for children in the Primary classroom

 LEAP adheres to these standards.  We also choose one of the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico to study and to visit each semester.  We also enjoy dabbling in and exploring foreign languages and cultures as time and interest allow.  While adding to the Montessori curriculum (within reason) is perfectly fine, it is not acceptable to simply ignore or not teach entire sections (Geometry and Botany are often overlooked).  Please feel free to look at our curriculum when reviewing other schools.

How many children are in the school?

Currently, due to the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid19) outbreak, spaces are limited for “in-house” attendance. However, we offer an on-line curriculum option for those who prefer distance learning. Please call to learn more about Montessori Map 

How do you fit the foreign language exposure around the uninterrupted two and three-hour work cycle?

The languages fit easily around the uninterrupted three-hour morning work cycle and two-hour afternoon work cycle because we do not interrupt them; we integrate them into the normal work cycle.  Songs and musical instruments can also be enjoyed in any language and are a normal part of the Montessori classroom.

Does your school partake in field-trips?

Yes!  We LOVE to take the children (who are ready) to Popejoy for the age-appropriate shows for the Schooltime Series!  We also look forward to our semi-annual trip to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and then one of the Native American Pueblos.  Being in New Mexico allows us easy access to our rich culture and (fantastic) museums and Bio Park. We also take the children to other places in the community to research what they are learning as time and interest allows.  

HOWEVER, due to the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid19) outbreak, all field-trips have been suspended. We plan to resume outings as soon as we are allowed.

Does this school have any kind of accreditations?

We are truly excited and thrilled to be a part of New Mexico FOCUS 5 Star Rating System.  We have been involved with FOCUS for the past 3 years and to our knowledge, we were the fastest school to go from the (mandatory starting of) 2.5 to 5 stars, earning this recognition in 7 months.  We are excited about working with the other Early Childhood Education and Preschools in the State of New Mexico with the common goal of raising the education standards for children all over the state.  

This also means that in addition to our Montessori Progress Reports and Lesson Plans, that our teachers complete the addition tracking paperwork for FOCUS and are required to complete all of the required classes.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to give us a call!