A Montessori preschool experience,
in a welcoming home-like environment

Ms. DeniseOwner and director Mary Denise Duppée received her Montessori Early Childhood Education Certificate through a MACTE-accredited center in 1994 and worked in Montessori preschools in San Diego and El Cajon for over a decade before opening MCHLG. 

She continued her education by completing Montessori Philosophy and Methods of Child Development through the Extended Studies Program at UCSD.

Ms. Denise holds a degree in Photography from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. In 2014, she became a Certified Barton Reading and Spelling Tutor for individuals with dyslexia, as well as a Dyslexia Screener and Consultant. She is a member of the American Montessori Society (AMS), the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), and Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).


Ms. Sophia
Ms. Sophia has a BA in Child Development from Point Loma Nazarene University and received her Montessori Early Childhood Education Certificate through a MACTE-accredited center in 2025. She worked in the classroom as part of her high school internship for her Child Development pathway and continued teaching while attending university. Ms. Sophia is a member of the American Montessori Society (AMS).

MONTESSORI METHOD OF EDUCATION

The name “Montessori” is from Dr. Maria Montessori, the first female Doctor of Medicine in Italy, who lived from 1870 to 1952. Dr. Montessori developed her unique educational method through her work with children, known as the Montessori Method, which is both a philosophy of child development and a rationale for guiding such growth. Children’s developmental needs are fostered through freedom within limits in a carefully prepared environment, which ensures exposure to a variety of materials and experiences.

The main premises of Montessori education are:

• Children possess an unusual sensitivity and intellectual ability to absorb and learn from their environment, unlike adults in terms of both quality and capacity.
• The most critical years of a child’s growth are the first six years, during which their unconscious learning comes to a conscious level.

"Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed."  -Maria Montessori.


The Whole Child Approach: The primary goal of a Montessori program is to help children reach their full potential in all areas of life. Activities promote the development of social skills, emotional growth, physical coordination, and mental preparation.
The Prepared Environment: In the self-directed classroom, the whole learning environment (classroom, materials, and social setting) must support the children.
The Montessori Materials: Dr. Montessori’s observations led her to design several multi-sensory, sequential, and self-correcting materials to facilitate learning.
The Teacher: The Montessori teacher meticulously observes each child’s behavior and growth. Based on this observation, the teacher guides the child in an environment designed to meet the child's needs. Montessori credentialing requires years of extensive training and education.

Dr. Montessori has significantly impacted education and the way we understand and teach children today. Her influence can be seen not only in the number of schools that bear her name but throughout child care, education, and development.

Current concepts such as individualized learning and readiness programs, manipulative learning, ungraded classes, combined age groups, team teaching, and open classrooms reflect many of her early insights.