Authentic, Hands-On, Accredited

The Fountainhead Montessori Adult Education (FMAE) program was conceived by Sarah Zimmerman, who, after over 20 years of experience with Montessori, saw the need for an accessible, affordable training course. FMAE has been in continuous operation since 1986.

Sarah, the founder of the nonprofit Fountainhead Montessori School in Northern California, wants to be able to reach out to those who are interested in Montessori training and/or a credential, but who have neither the time nor finances required to partake in a full-time course, which is why FMAE allows students to take one or two classes per quarter while working.

Sarah Zimmerman is now an Instructor Emeritus at FMAE.

4 Great Campuses to choose from - Mandarin Immersion Offered at Dublin & Orinda

DANVILLE CAMPUS

939 El Pintado Road
Danville, CA 94526

DUBLIN CAMPUS

6665 Amador Plaza Rd.
Dublin, CA 94568

LIVERMORE CAMPUS

949 Central Ave.
Livermore, CA 94551

ORINDA CAMPUS

30 Santa Maria Way
Orinda, CA 94563

What is Montessori Learning?

A parent's guide to a Montessori Education for your child

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We have several different program types at Fountainhead Montessori. Our Mandarin Immersion program offers a 100% Mandarin speaking environment. Both teachers are native Mandarin speakers and the program strives for a natural language learning experience.

Cozy Toddler

The cozy toddler environment provides children with a warm introduction to school. Trained teachers are ready to help children and their parents with separation and lead the children to the many age-appropriate activities available to help them become more independent.

Prep Class

The prep class may be one of the child's first opportunities to begin to learn the negotiations of socialization. Children and their families are helped through the separation process and invited into a warm Montessori environment.

Primary Class

The primary class offers children a multi-age community in which to explore Montessori prepared environment. This multi-age grouping (ages 3-6 years) is successful, because the older child learns by being the leader in the classroom, and the younger child learns by observing the older child. This environment is intended to serve the child for three years. The overall goal of this classroom in offering a foundation for all subject matters and to facilitate a love of learning.

Immersion Programs

100% Immersion Programs. Many parents would like their children to have the advantages of bilingualism. The ability to understand and speak more than one language is not the only benefit of immersion education. This authentic communications allows students to learn a second language in a similar manner to the way that they have learned their first. Immersion programs have generally produced better results than traditional foreign language teaching stragegies.