La Maternelle at Les Lilas: Where Curiosity, Independence, and the Joy of Learning Come Together

Between the ages of three and six, children experience an extraordinary period of growth and discovery. They gradually move from unconsciously absorbing the world around them to actively seeking knowledge, asking questions, making connections, and organizing their understanding. Their vocabulary expands, their memory develops, their movements become more precise, and their curiosity seems endless. At the same time, they are discovering who they are, learning to become more independent, and beginning to understand the feelings, perspectives, and needs of others.

At Les Lilas, our Maternelle embraces this remarkable stage of childhood by bringing together the rich academic and cultural foundations of the French Éducation Nationale and the child-centered philosophy of Montessori education. Rooted in the French tradition of l'école maternelle, our program values language, creativity, discovery, and le vivre-ensemble—the art of learning to live, grow, and thrive together. In our bilingual, mixed-age classrooms, children explore the world through movement, meaningful conversations, hands-on experiences, stories, songs, and the everyday joy of discovering something new. French and English are not simply subjects to study, but living languages through which children think, communicate, build friendships, and express who they are.

At the heart of our approach is the essential role of the teacher. Our French Maternelle teachers are active educators who intentionally plan, introduce, and lead lessons, structure learning experiences, and ensure that every child progresses toward the objectives of the French National Education curriculum. Through explicit teaching, small-group instruction, collective learning experiences, and individualized Montessori work, our teachers create a thoughtful balance between teacher-led learning and child-led discovery. They carefully observe each child's development, adapt their instruction, and know when to demonstrate, when to challenge, and when to step aside to let a child discover independently. This combination allows us to nurture curiosity, concentration, independence, and confidence while building strong academic foundations in language, mathematics, artistic expression, physical development, and exploration of the world.