American International Montessori School

Montessori places a major emphasis on intra-personal and inter-personal skills through grace and courtesy. In preschool, children can work independently when they choose, while the elementary program centers on regular work in pairs and small groups to foster collaboration. Students learn to greet others with a handshake and eye contact, express their feelings with words, respect personal needs and workspaces, and work together to maintain the class community. They follow directions and participate in group activities, building social competence across ages. Social and executive skills are integrated throughout both Infant Community and Elementary programs to support personal responsibility and positive interactions.

The Language Program uses dual Mandarin Chinese/Japanese immersion from the Infant Community. In Infant Community, two teachers per classroom typically include one Mandarin-speaking teacher and one Japanese-speaking teacher. For Preschool/Children's House, Mandarin Chinese or Japanese immersion classrooms are available, with native-speaking teachers. In Lower Elementary, Mandarin Chinese or Japanese immersion tracks continue, with teachers speaking Mandarin, Japanese, and English to support multilingual development. About half of AIM students arrive not speaking Japanese or Chinese and become conversational in a second language after about three years.

Mental wellbeing is supported through social and executive skills development. The elementary program builds in autonomy, responsibility, and collaboration through weekly work plans and group activities, fostering persistence, time management, and sustained attention. The preschool program emphasizes social skills like empathy, respect, and positive interaction, while the Infant Community teaches self-regulation and appropriate social behavior. Across programs, children practice expressing feelings, following routines, and resolving conflicts in a supportive, multilingual environment.