Planting Seeds of Independence, Curiosity, and a Love of Learning
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About Us
Recognizing the absence of Christian Montessori preschool education in the Richmond area, Karri, a Hanover native, decided to establish a school focused on 3-6-year-old children. She wanted to replicate the quality Montessori education that her children experienced in Virginia Beach. Karri began her educational career after earning a degree in Psychology and Teaching from James Madison University. She went on to receive her Children's House Montessori training in San Luis Obispo, CA, and graduated from that program in 1999. With almost three decades of teaching experience across various schools (public, private, Christian, and Montessori), she is eager to bring this unique learning experience to her hometown of Hanover.
Karri Messina
Director of Oak Tree Christian Montessori School
Monday - Friday
9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
3 - 6 year old children
Faith & Values
“A teacher must be able to see the child as Jesus saw him. “ The Child in the Church
~ Dr. Maria Montessori
At Oak Tree Christian Montessori School, faith is woven naturally into the rhythm of each day. Rooted in Christian values, we guide children to see themselves and others as beloved creations of God. Prayer, Bible stories, and songs of praise help nurture a joyful relationship with Christ, while daily acts of kindness and service cultivate a spirit of love and respect.
In harmony with the Montessori philosophy, we encourage children to grow in independence while also learning the beauty of community, gratitude, and stewardship of God’s world. Our goal is to nurture not only curious minds, but also compassionate hearts grounded in faith.
“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
~ Matthew 19:14
Montessori Approach
At our school, the Montessori Method honors the natural curiosity God has placed within every child. In a carefully prepared environment, children explore hands-on materials that foster independence, focus, and a love for learning. Teachers act as gentle guides, helping each child grow at their own pace while discovering the joy of order, beauty, and purposeful work.
Montessori education nurtures the whole child—mind, body, and spirit—by encouraging self-confidence, respect for others, and care for God’s creation. This approach lays a strong foundation for academic growth, faith, and lifelong learning.
“The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind. The child is a spiritual embryo who, with our help, can develop into a fully spiritual being. The child is created by God and is the builder of mankind.”
~ Dr. Maria Montessori
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Child-centered Learning
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Self-discipline & Self-correction
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Creative thinking & Sensory Experiences
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Social Skills & Peace Education
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Discipline & Order
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Practical Life Skills
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Individualized Set up
Programs
Sensorial
The sensorial area helps children refine their five senses as they explore qualities like size, shape, color, texture, sound, taste, and smell. Through hands-on materials—such as color tablets, geometric solids, and sound cylinders—children learn to classify, compare, and describe the world around them. This builds concentration, order, and clear thinking, while also laying the groundwork for later learning in math, language, and science. By sharpening their awareness, children develop a deeper appreciation of the beauty and order in God’s creation.
Practical Life
The practical life area is the heart of the classroom. Here, children engage in purposeful activities such as pouring, sweeping, cleaning, food cutting, and gardening. These everyday tasks build independence, concentration, coordination and care for the environment. Through meaningful work, children gain confidence and a sense of responsibility while developing respect for themselves and others.
Language Arts
In Montessori education, cursive writing is often introduced before print because it is a more natural and intuitive way for young children to learn to write, thanks to the continuous, flowing movements of cursive. Writing in cursive also promotes better letter recognition and reduces letter reversals.
Reading is taught through a progressive phonetic reading program using the sandpaper letters, movable alphabet, pictures arranged by phonetic skill, and word labels. After the child is able to read several short-vowel words, the concept of “a sentence being a group of words that tells us something” is introduced.
Math
Math is taught using a hands-on, concrete approach which fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation for math. These materials are designed to be self-correcting, allowing children to explore and discover at their own pace, building independence, and confidence in their mathematical abilities.
Cultural
The cultural area opens the child's eyes to the wider world through hands-on exploration of geography, science, history, art and music. Children learn by discovering the beauty of God's creation and the richness of human life.