Lifetime Montessori School

Words can’t adequately describe my adoration for Lifetime Montessori, its loving teachers and devoted administrative staff. Our daughter began days after her second birthday in the Toddler classroom with Miss Nadia and we are a few months into Primary with Miss Claire. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe how amazing both our daughter’s lead teachers and each of their assistants and all afterschool program teachers are. Such overwhelmingly positive attitudes and such respect and kindness toward each child in their classes.
We live in a decidedly Montessori-​centric home, so the Toddler classroom was an pretty easy transition for our daughter and for us as parents (well, at least for me, maybe a little foreign to my spouse). That said, Lifetime’s traditional approach to Montessori is loving, welcoming and non-​judgmental, so don’t be afraid if Montessori is a foreign concept to you. You’ll likely find your little one is quickly picking up on care of self, care of the environment and compassion for his or her friends and teachers and all sorts of fantastically independent and enriching «work» and activities. The sense of pride and accomplishment you’ll see in your child is heartwarming. My spouse had no familiarity with Montessori and is continually in awe of the amazing person the curriculum and, particularly the Lifetime staff, are helping shape our daughter into.
I toured several schools and, while not dispositive, I was especially impressed Lifetime had so many teachers and assistants who had been with the school for so many years. The pre-​school years can be very high turnover, as I learned in touring other options (mere months apparently…), but the substantial tenure of so many of the Lifetime teachers implies something important about mutual respect and loyalty between the administration and teaching staff. Continuity, especially in the early years away from the home, can be so important and I very much appreciated that even before one teacher transitioned out of our child’s Toddler classroom, there was a deliberate and effective transitioning in of the new assistant. By the time the former left, the replacement was a beloved staple in our child’s life.
We plan to move in the near future and even if it means a major commuting sacrifice, we will continue to make sure our daughter has the fulfilling opportunity to continue her learning journey at Lifetime. I knew from the moment I visited and toured with Kristin Edwards over two years ago that this was the perfect environment for my child to grow and with each day that passes I am even more confident in our choice and attached to this exceptional environment.
It may not be the perfect fit for every single family, but it was the perfect fit for ours and I am forever grateful for Lifetime’s learning environment.

Phenomenal pre-​school and kindergarten experience. We’ve had our son in LMS since he was 19 months. He has done extremely well and he always went to school with purpose and enthusiasm. LMS really instills a sense of confidence and accomplishment in each of their students. I was especially impressed with his math progress during his kindergarten year – he is doing multiplication, long division and quickly calculates word problems in his head. He loved geography and has a broadbased understanding of the world and different cultures. He has a firm grasp on critical thinking and problem solving as well, and I believe that his teachers were instrumental in fostering his journey of learning. We are so happy with our decision to keep him there through his kindergarten year!

Lifetime Montessori School is a great school with excellent teachers, organized and approachable management, and a fantastic learning environment.
My daughter transferred to this school when she was almost four and a half. From then until now, we have seen a tremendous change in her. We believe this is due to the time and the work she has done in the Primary classroom. She loves to go to school. Every day when I pick her up, she always tells me how happy she is at school. She is also more independent overall. When she faces some problems, she knows she has to work to find the solutions. Also, we are so glad she is more confident. Every time we watch her work on lessons, we are so impressed by her enthusiasm and concentration. Because of Montessori’s Programs, my daughter has become interested in anything and everything and likes to try to learn everything.
Because we are a Chinese-​American family and only speak Chinese at home, I was worried about my son, who was turning three when he went to school for the first time. My son couldn’t speak any English back then. I tried to teach him some English at home, but it didn’t work. Fortunately, the director, Kristin Edwards, soothed my worries. She also gave me some advice and let me know language has never a big obstacle in Montessori Programs. And it is really true. My son has gone to school for almost six months, from last September until now. He is comfortable in his Primary classroom. He likes to do the work and participates a lot in every activity. In addition, he has a growing English vocabulary and can put together simple sentences now. It’s just amazing!
The design of the campus is wonderful. The school is private and safe. It is also clean and bright. Each month they hold events and seminars for families to help parents understand what Montessori programs are, let them know what their children are doing during the day, and even help them get to know the neighborhood. Most important of all, a parent-​teacher meeting is held once every semester. We have enough time to talk about our children with their teachers. It is so important and we really love this arrangement.
Thanks to all the staff and teachers of Lifetime Montessori School for your enthusiasm and great help. My entire family has benefited from the education my children are receiving at LMS. I highly recommend Lifetime to all parents who are interested in sending their children to a Montessori school and who want to understand their children from a different point of view.

My seven year old grandson attends this school, and has since he was 18 months. I must relate a story that recently happened, and I can only attribute it to the approach to education that the Montessori system employs. I had enrolled my grandson in some weekly soccer lessons with Soccer Shots (which I learned about through this school) and last week they played a new game. 30 soccer balls were thrown onto the field randomly and a team of three were timed on how long it took them to clear the field by shooting every ball into one of the two goals. The second team of three would then do the same, and the times were compared. My grandson watched the first team do this the way the coaches later told me that every team has done it, each team member running to a ball and dribbling it to a goal and shooting it into the net before going to find another ball, etc. And then an amazing thing happened. He concocted a plan where he would stand in the middle of the field and pass each ball to one of his team mates who were standing by each of the goals. They would then kick the balls into the net. They did it. His team won. The coaches said they had never seen this before.
So here is a seven year old boy observing a situation, and within a couple minutes he has come up with a strategy, developed a plan, convinced his team mates, instructed them, and together they executed the plan. Leadership, thinking outside the box, coaching, winning. I was so impressed.
It is a big step to decide to send your child to a Montessori school, but it is a true gift to have a school like LMS that truly embraces every aspect, every fiber, of that Montessori approach. I have met the staff and the teachers there and can’t say enough about their dedication. And my grandson is just one example of the results they are achieving.

We are continuously pleased and incredibly grateful that our children are able to attend Lifetime Montessori. The educational foundation that Lifetime is providing our children in their formative years is priceless. From what we have observed, the skills taught at Lifetime Montessori far exceed those taught at the same grade levels in local public schools.
We appreciate the quality and professionalism of the teachers, the materials provided for children to learn and grow, and we are grateful that such an incredible learning environment exists for our children. We especially love what the teachers help instill in our children — problem solving skills, responsibility, independence, a sense of accomplishment, how to care for the environment, and how to care for each other — and how they help instill it in such a supportive and caring way.
Every day, our children astonish us with what they have learned. Thank you, Lifetime Montessori, for all that you do!

I could not be any happier with the choice I made sending both my boys to Lifetime Montessori. My oldest boy started when he was 20 months and was there through kindergarten. The transition into 1^st great went really well and he was really well prepared.
My youngest son is currently there in kindergarten and has also been there since he was 20 months. I can’t thank the director and staff enough for helping them grow and become such confident, responsible, caring individuals. So many of the staff members are dear to me as I have known them for a long time.
Over the years I have watched the Director, Kristin run this school and am truly amazed by her passion. She hires the best staff, from the reception area, to administration, teachers and daycare staff.
I have been driving from Carmel Valley to this school for almost 6 years now and am not regretting it for a second. It has been the best decision I have made!

My daughter has been going to Lifetime since almost the day she turned 18 months old — the minimum age to enroll here. I have watched her grow from a semi-​babbling toddler into the most amazing 5-​year-​old, and give a great deal of credit to Lifetime for not only her academic growth (reading, writing, multiplication in math, etc.) but also all those other things that matter just as much to a young person’s development. She is incredibly social, confident, kind… and nurturing toward younger children, which I credit quite a bit to Montessori’s unique mixed-​age classroom setting.
I won’t get into an exhaustive explanation of what Montessori is about, but will just say that watching a classroom full of silent young children intently focused on their individual tasks while the teacher takes a back seat and only interferes if needed is an incredible experience. You can practically see their little brains working, and they become so much more capable than we typically give children credit for.
The school was designed and built for exactly this purpose — no repurposed office building here (which is more than I can say for some other schools in San Diego). Every classroom has its own bathroom with child-​sized toilets and sink. All furniture is child-​sized, per the Montessori method. A beautiful playground in the back because hey, even high-​performing Montessori kids need to just run around and play! — with a lovely play structure and tons of open grassy area. The director, Kristen, is unique in that not only does she run the school but she obviously lives and breathes this stuff. Tons of workshops during the year help you understand the Montessori method and how you can bring it into your own home. There are also plenty of opportunities to get to know the other parents and teachers. You can tell she truly cares about every single child at this school, and when you’re talking about your children, you want them to be under the watchful eye of someone who isn’t just looking to pass the hours as easily as possible!
We are expecting our second child in a few months’ time and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that we will be sending him to Lifetime as well. If you’re looking for a place where kids are piled into a room with TVs and music blaring and allowed to run rampant, this is not your place. But if things like early academic achievement, social structure, and learning at their own pace but never being held back by the development pace of other kids in the room are things that are important to you, I cannot recommend Lifetime strongly enough.

I am sorry that Emily J. had such a negative experience at Lifetime. My husband and I, on the other hand, cannot say enough good things about the school, the curriculum, the teachers and the administration. Our daughter started at Lifetime when she was 18 months old, and when she transitioned from the toddler classroom to the primary at 2 ½ years she read her new class a book. Yes, by 2 ½ she was reading. And she is not the only one, as I know of several other children who started reading early as well. People couldnt beleive she was ony 2 because she was so well spoken, and we believe this was due to her time and the work she did in the toddler classroom.
I think my daughter was in the same toddler classroom as Emily J.‘s daughter because her teacher’s native language is Spanish and one of the assistants speaks Farsi, but not as her primary language. I think this only benefitted my daughter because as most books and research I have done indicates, if you want a child to speak different languages as an adult, you have to start them early. One of her teacher in primary speaks Spanish to her now and we also have her in an extra Spanish class. Again, when they are little sponges is the time to do this.
The teachers we have had at Lifetime have been extremely loving and nurturing, which is what you are looking for when they are caring for your very young child. The way they deal with conflict in the classroom is extremely effective, with each child being made to deal with the issue, then apologize to their friend and either hug or shake it out. Then things get back to normal. It is so amazing to see the difference in how a Montessori child deals with other children and how we see children in our neighborhood deal with each other. The Montessori classroom is orderly and calm and I encourage you to sit in on a class to see what its all about.
Emily J. in her review talks about «hippies», and about how the school is too diverse, but then says the parents are like the housewives of OC… Its all a little confusing! How can it be all those things at once? :-)
The school itself is very well thought out in terms of the layout and the classrooms, there is a very nice playground for the children, and all the teachers know all the children. Even teachers that my daughter hasn’t had knows her name and she knows them. They have extra after school programs that they offer such as dance and art and playball, as well as after school daycare for working parents.
I highly recommend Lifetime. If you live in the 4S Ranch/​Santa Luz/​Rancho Penasquitos/​Rancho Bernardo/​Mira Mesa areas, heck some families drive from Carmel Valley because its just that good! And if you are looking for a quality preschool that teaches in the Montessori method (and if you aren’t familiar with Montessori check it out! It’s wonderful!), you owe it to yourself to take a tour.

This is a great school, despite the negative review below. I think it was an extreme situation for that person and not the norm. We started at the school back in 2009 with my son at 18 months, watching him grow and learn at an astounding rate. He has been enjoying the classroom materials and all the teachers for many years now. The teachers, daycare and office staff are pleasant to work with and have nothing but the children’s best interest at heart. They care for the children as if your own. Which is why it was a no-​brainer to enroll our daughter as soon as she turned 18 months. She has had an amazing experience in the last 5 months, she has almost been potty trained (solely by her teachers) and has improved her vocabulary and interest in books. It is a blessing to have both the kids together at such a wonderful place. Another thing that sold us about this school was the safety, the campus is gated and there is a HUGE and beautiful playground in the back of the school. As working parents is it hard to leave the kids all day, but knowing they have a great place to run around with theirs friends after class is a huge relief. I higly recommend checking out the school for yourself.

I have nothing but positive things to say about the experience my two children have had at Lifetime Montessori. I’ve had one or both of my kids there since the school opened doors in September, 2007. My daughter completed the primary program and has transitioned beautifully and with great confidence into public elementary. My son will be in the LMS kindergarten program in the fall. My goals for my kids’ preschool experience were simply that they would be in a loving and supportive environment and my wishes have been far exceeded. My daughter left there reading like a fiend and her first year in public school was a fantastic experience, due in no small part to the head start AND self assurance that she gained from her years at Lifetime.

I normally don’t take the time to write reviews online but felt a need to do so after seeing another review posted. Besides the erroneous claims made in that review, I found it to be an indictment of the parents whose children attend the approximately 20,000 institutions worldwide, including some public schools right here in San Diego, that implement the Montessori methods which were developed in the early 1900s. Yes that was about 100 years ago, not «2 Centuries». Apparently the child of Emily J won’t get much additional help at home in arithmetic. I could counter every point made in that review but I will avoid it in the hope that any educated mind will detect the ignorance of its author and disregard its validity.
Our son just completed his fourth year at Lifetime Montessori and we are very pleased with the level of knowledge he has acquired and appreciative of the environment and teaching methods that Lifetime maintains and employs. When we were looking for a place for our son, we wanted a place that was safe, secure, and diverse that allowed our son to explore and grow at his own pace. We found those things at Lifetime Montessori with a very professional and caring staff. We didn’t notice any significant turnover of staff throughout the four years that our son attended and his time at the school was spent with many of the same children. If we had to do it over again, we would choose Lifetime Montessori.
Rocky R

I was asked to recommend to a friend about my Lifetime experiences over several years with our kids. I went to see what others had been saying and, cannot believe it, no other Unilocal.I guess it is not something one typically does like high-​volume restaurant reviews.
The thing about this place is that the basis is deeply, serious, strict, legit «Montessori Method.» The director is O.G. Montessori. Which is fine, if you are into turn of the century (2 centuries ago) methods for teaching kids how to live. Nothing wrong with that, giving kids an independence kick is a good thing. Giving parents a «hook» or two to further train their kids is a good thing. Allowing them to «choose their own work» for years on end literally tailspins them for a long time when they hit the directed environment of public school, aka, real life. We saw it happen. Not pretty.
Upside: Montessori Primary lets a kid go as far as they can as fast as they can and values accomplishment. Downside: If not closely monitored, this dash can be to the exclusion of all else. My boy turned 5 and went to public K and they tested him as late-​2^nd, early-​3^rd grade reading. Math facts? Nearly zero. Could he reliably write anything? Not a chance. (no, the hippies are more into «flowing his desire to write,» spelling and letterforms would ruin the joy…) Was he ready for handling the graceless little snots that didn’t have an insulated caring Montessori environment their first few years? No way.
If you are a hippie, the touchy-​feely part of Montessori sort of communal environmentalism will be cool. Certain other hippies will think it is patriarchal and is a mind-​control recipe for cloning little corporate achievers, like the Google kids. Right wingers will disdain the hippie claptrap, and enjoy the achievements and manipulability of their trained offspring. In almost all cases, people will notice your kids have grace and are responsive.
2 main complaints about this school: lots of turnover happened all of a sudden, so school culture is in flux. What was reliable a year ago may not be now. (Example, the photos of kids and teachers as of this writing are all graduated and moved on.) Also, there is a lot of tendency to hire foreign nationals to teach, as Montessori is widely recognized internationally, so the motivation for an offshore teacher to get Montessori credentialling is great. The drawback is that in a very multicultural school like this where a good fraction of children are first generation Americans who as a group speak many different languages at home, English is truly a second language of the class. In our case in a matter of months, the very nice toddler teacher who came from Latin America and had a very thick accent, began to speak routine Spanish with about 20% of the class. Her new assistants who then came in from India and Iran spoke other languages as well. From 18 months to 30 months, our child in that class absorbed almost zero English language. Just learned how to squeak and complain. The frustration level was high in our house. Decision was made to move her to another school with more homogeneous language and older kids. In 2 months, just 2 months, there has been a great leap forward and now we are lectured at length by our baby. As it should be.
If you prefer Farsi, Mandarin, Spanish, and Hindi all jumbled up around your very young child, this may serve you. If you want an English-​first preparatory experience, I would predict you are only going to be half satisfied.
Also, while the children were almost to a person awesome and sweet, I found these parents to be very cold and hard to get to know, despite quarterly mixers and barbecues. They drove nice cars and lived in nice Santa Luz homes by and large, but the superficiality was like Real Housewives of OC. God forfend if you didn’t drive a Benzo or better. That was off-​putting to me, and not much one can do about it. It was the location.
Lastly, unless the administration has changed, be ready for all sorts of goofy email communications and wacky accounting errors. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.