Cedar Valley Montessori School

Cedar Valley Montessori School Cedar Valley Montessori School is proud to be celebrating over fifty-five years of providing family-centered, authentic Montessori programming.

Call for a tour today! Cedar Valley Montessori School was founded in 1971 by a group of Cedar Rapids parents seeking a high-quality preschool education for their children. The school continues to operate today with a strong core of active and engaged families. Starting with 10 children in the basement of the school building in the Immaculate Conception Church in southeast Cedar Rapids, CVMS has steadily grown to its current size of more than 125 students.

09/21/2026

On this International Day of Peace, we extend our warm light and song beyond our humble abode. Peace is for everyone, no matter how big or small 🕯️🌎

On Tuesday, May 4, 1971, enrollment opened for Cedar Rapids’ newest nonprofit: Cedar Valley Montessori School. By August...
09/18/2026

On Tuesday, May 4, 1971, enrollment opened for Cedar Rapids’ newest nonprofit: Cedar Valley Montessori School. By August 27, 1971—in just three months—ninety-seven fresh-faced children sauntered through the front doors to initiate their very first day. Founding directresses Sajeda and Saleha Nanjiani, and parent board members--such as Janetha Girotto--greeted them after months of preparation, from children’s work exhibitions, to open forums at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. Their hard work, dedication, and belief in their community is what keeps the legacy of Cedar Valley Montessori School alive today.

The Nanjianis’ choice to make Cedar Valley Montessori a nonprofit was a deliberate one, predicated solely on the passion for which they held for Maria Montessori’s teachings. It could not have been easy; for instance, the Nanjianis had immigrated from Karachi, West Pakistan, before the pair found themselves here, in our very own Cedar Rapids. With the collaboration of parents in the area, they were able to import children’s materials from Holland, find a space to organize them within, and begin the fifty-five years of Montessori guidance of children in our city.

The importance of their tireless work, and our present day staff’s unwavering dedication, cannot be contextualized by mere sentences. Rather, the rippling effect of the early child’s education, mannerisms, and bearings are the truest examples of the seeds they continue to sow on a daily basis. The functions of our institution are a direct reflection of the emotional and monetary belief of the community supporting us.

As we prepare to launch our Annual Campaign, we are taking a step back to appreciate the fifty-five years of beauty, grace, and courtesy fostered within our walls. It simply could not exist without our families, friends, staff, and faculty! Thank you, and happy Friday!

Wow! It’s been a moment; today we are tackling a Montessori Monday! Last we met, we discussed the Sensorial Area of the ...
09/14/2026

Wow! It’s been a moment; today we are tackling a Montessori Monday! Last we met, we discussed the Sensorial Area of the classroom. The logical progression of a prepared classroom brings us to the Mathematical Area.

A successful Mathematical Area invites the child to explore the abstract. In the Montessori practice, Math is first recognized as a language rather than a means for quantification; to understand Math at its fullest must require an understanding of the vocabulary used within it. Only from there can the child begin to solve numeric sentences, or organize a board in its correct sequence. To prepare the Mathematic area of the classroom, Montessori guides must take into account the language of Math and its natural progressions; a fine example would be that of the spindle boxes being one of the very first works a child is beckoned to. Spindle boxes, in their own right, introduce the link between the abstract and the concrete, quantifying physical objects and allowing the child to recognize them quite literally in the palm of their hand.

Other iconic works within the Mathematic area include, but are not limited to:
✶Red and blue rods (numeration 1-10).
✶Tens and teens board (introduces the decimal system).
✶Golden beads (introduces group operations).

Sources used to assist in the writing of this post:
→ Understanding Montessori Math: https://themontessorichildrensacademy.com/blog/2024/06/12/understanding-montessori-math/

09/11/2026

We, as citizens of the world, are taking a step back to commemorate the anniversary of events from September 11, 2001. Twenty-five years ago today, our nation unified in the face of travesty. We held our families a little tighter, loved others a little harder, and vowed to be a little kinder. Such are the values we hold here at Cedar Valley Montessori, as we continue to shape young leaders capable of empathy, understanding, and compassion by recognizing events such as this.

Please take a moment with us to view this beautiful drone demonstration given on September 9, 2026. Video provided by WTVG 13 Action News via Youtube.

Looks like it’s pre-festival Friday here in the Cedar Rapids area! This upcoming weekend is simply packed with all sorts...
09/11/2026

Looks like it’s pre-festival Friday here in the Cedar Rapids area! This upcoming weekend is simply packed with all sorts of family fun, date night opportunities, and soul-warming food! From Marion to Old Macdonald’s Farm, mark your calendars–it’s about to be a doozy.

✶Iowa Fall Festival (September 11 → October 31): https://www.hellocedarrapids.com/events-calendar/iowa-fall-festival-9/
✶Sourdough Workshop (September 11 | 4-7PM): https://www.hellocedarrapids.com/events-calendar/beyond-the-basics-intermediate-sourdough/
✶Fall into Marion Parade (September 12 | 10AM): https://www.hellocedarrapids.com/events-calendar/fall-into-marion-parade-2/
✶Farm Glow (September 12 | 6:30PM-8:30PM): https://www.hellocedarrapids.com/events-calendar/farm-glow/
✶Mac ‘n Mingle (September 13 | 12PM): https://www.hellocedarrapids.com/events-calendar/3rd-annual-mac-n-mingle/
✶Spark in the Park Multicultural Festival (September 13 | 12-5PM): https://www.hellocedarrapids.com/events-calendar/spark-in-the-park-multicultural-festival/

You may see some familiar faces in the crowds this weekend! ;) Happy Friday!

Monday, September 7, marks the historical Labor Day here in the United States. Celebrated at a national level, Labor Day...
09/07/2026

Monday, September 7, marks the historical Labor Day here in the United States. Celebrated at a national level, Labor Day came into place after the signing off on a workers’ protections act by President Grover Cleveland in 1894. The act not only established Labor Day as a holiday, but also the following:

✶The right to organize in the workplace.
✶The right to an eight-hour workday.
✶Abolishment of night work (without compensation).
✶Equal pay for equal work.

And, arguably the most important decision of all:
✶Abolishment of child labor.

At this time in history, Maria Montessori would have been putting the final touches on her studies at the University of Rome, graduating just two years later, in 1896. The 1890s were a pivotal moment, given the progressions of the Industrial Revolution, in children’s and workers’ rights within the United States.

If you are interested in expanding your understanding of Labor Day through the means of ethnomusicology, the Smithsonian offers a playlist through the “Folkways Recordings” facet of their museum, located here: https://folkways.si.edu/selections-solidarity-sing-along-songbook/music/playlist/smithsonian?utm_source=si.edu&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=spotlight

Image credentials:
→ “32c Child Labor Reform single,” from the Postal Museum, archived by the Smithsonian. (https://www.si.edu/object/32c-child-labor-reform-single:npm_1998.2010.955).
→ “The Factory Girl’s Song” from the American History Museum, archived by the Smithsonian. (https://www.si.edu/object/factory-girls-song:nmah_1445159).

Sources used in the assistance of writing this post:
→ “Labor Day: Celebrating the Achievements of the American Worker and Labor Movement”:
https://www.si.edu/spotlight/labor-day
→ “About Ethnomusicology”: https://www.ethnomusicology.org/page/AboutEthnomusicol
→ “Biography of Maria Montessori”: https://montessori-ami.org/resource-library/facts/biography-maria-montessori

09/04/2026

Did you know that today is National Wildlife Day? Established in honor of famous conservationist Steve Irwin, National Wildlife Day brings attention to endangered animals, and inspires us all to treat nature as our very own classroom. Consider celebrating by paying a visit to our very own Indian Creek Nature Center, or by poking around your backyard and seeing just what little creatures you might find 🔎🦋 As Maria Montessori once said, "Nature has this beautiful arrangement in which everybody, while striving for his own life and happiness, does something for the improvement and conservation of the environment." (Citizen of the World, page 21).

Here is a short video from Wildlife Warriors, showcasing the beauty of human interaction with our natural world and how we can collaborate to create a better environment for us all.

Sources used to assist in the writing of this post:
→ Honoring National Wildlife Day and the Charities Protecting Our Planet:
https://give.org/news/honoring-national-wildlife-day-and-charities-protecting-our-planet

Today is an extremely special Montessori Monday; today, we are celebrating the wonderful Maria Montessori’s birthday! On...
08/31/2026

Today is an extremely special Montessori Monday; today, we are celebrating the wonderful Maria Montessori’s birthday! One-hundred and fifty-six years ago, Maria Montessori entered the world with a pledge in her heart. Unbeknownst to her, she would become one of the most influential educators in the world, paving the way not only for entire school systems, but for aspiring female physicians in Europe. Her legacy continues to impact our modern world, shaping the current and future leaders of today. Happy birthday Doctor Montessori! We celebrate your birth, and your time on earth! May the sun, moon, and stars, shine down where you are! ⋆｡°✩

For the grand finale of our first week of school, consider these four things to attend this upcoming weekend with your f...
08/28/2026

For the grand finale of our first week of school, consider these four things to attend this upcoming weekend with your family! Celebrate together as we step into the swing of a new academic year!

☆ Cedar Rapids Market After Dark: https://www.hellocedarrapids.com/events-calendar/market-after-dark-2026/

☆ Marion Farmer's Market: https://www.cityofmarion.org/recreation/events/community-calendar

☆ Releaf Party at the Park: https://www.hellocedarrapids.com/events-calendar/releaf-party-at-the-park/

☆ Family Fun at Ascension Park: https://www.cityofmarion.org/recreation/events/community-calendar

Happy Montessori Monday! In our continuation of exploring the core works of the prepared classroom, we are traveling to ...
08/24/2026

Happy Montessori Monday! In our continuation of exploring the core works of the prepared classroom, we are traveling to the Sensorial area. Here, at face value, is where the children begin to lean into their five senses. However, when you dip into the deep end, Sensorial is a treasure trove of discoveries served up on a platter.

A successfully prepared Sensorial area beckons the child’s absorbent mind with beautiful presentation, vibrant coloration, and enticing texturization. Each work will serve as a honing device, targeting each specific sense: Auditory, touch, scent, taste, and sight. A familiar work in this area of the classroom include the famous “Pink Tower,” which was one of the very first conceived by Doctor Montessori. Her research found, through careful observation, that the Sensorial area refined notions such as self-correction, and better understanding of abstract concepts through the use of concrete objects.

Divvied up by sense, other iconic Sensorial works are:
✴ Auditory: Bells (sound discrimination and matching; comprising of the chromatic scale).
✴ Touch: Tactile Tablets (wood and sandpaper), Fabric Boxes, Thermic Tablets (temperature discrimination).
✴ Scent: Smelling Jars.
✴ Taste: Tasting Jars.
✴ Sight: The Pink Tower, Brown Stairs, Red Rods, all used for size discrimination, dimensional discrimination.
Sources utilized to assist writing this post:
→ Trillium Montessori: https://www.trilliummontessori.org/sensorial-area-montessori/

Address

110 5th Avenue SE
Cedar Rapids, IA
52401

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 7:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 7:30am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+13193655155

Website

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