Gail Williamsen stands on a chair, hoisting her 5-year-old daughter for another peek at baby birds nesting outside their kitchen window.

"Oh cute," whispers a wide-eyed Lauren, as if seeing the nestlings for the first time.

Ten months ago Lauren, who has Down syndrome, struggled to express her enthusiasm. But the nest, its squirming inhabitants and other worldly wonders have proven great tools for coaxing words from the reluctant speaker.

Williamsen calls it the "magic of Montessori," a student-driven approach to learning endorsed 100 years ago for physically and mentally impaired children, but now more widely used at private preschools which often exclude kids with special needs.

Williamsen, however, is returning Montessori to its roots with the launch of Elizabeth Academy in Murray, an "inclusive" preschool for all children ages 3 through 6. The school, at 154 E. Myrtle Ave., opens this fall and is taking applications.

"The special needs community has just hungered for this," said Williamsen who built the school with her husband, Thom, and some help from the family Sorenson Legacy Foundation. Williamsen's father is the late Utah billionaire James LeVoy Sorenson.

Elizabeth Academy is inspired and named for Lauren Elizabeth, who will be one of the school's first students.

Lauren was attending public school, but growing more distant from her peers because, in part, of her struggle with language, said Williamsen.

The district referred Lauren to a speech pathologist who lured her to speak with objects that interested her.

It was working, but Lauren's educational plan called for only 15 minutes of therapy a week, "and that wasn't enough," said Williamsen who looked for a private preschool to continue her progress.

She found a Montessori, which would only enroll Lauren conditionally because she wasn't potty trained.

So, with a little research, Williamsen committed to opening her own school.

The Montessori method was pioneered in the early 20th century by the Italian physician Maria Montessori who was nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize. She devised it for children in Rome's asylums who were believed to be ineducable.

Countless schools have adopted the method, though to be a true Montessori requires special training and certification.

And though they're supposed to be inclusive, many aren't, said Williamsen.

Montessori students learn through discovery, choosing what interests them from a well-stocked classroom of materials designed to develop their senses, brains and motor skills. The teacher's role is to introduce the materials and stand by, monitoring students' progress in silence.

The idea is to work to children's' natural strengths and interests. Students are encouraged to respect and help each other.

"What's wonderful is it doesn't matter if a child is advanced or developmentally delayed, they have an opportunity to thrive at their own pace," said Nancy Lindeman, a teacher of 30 years who will serve as director at Elizabeth Academy.

Susan Maude, president for the Division for Early Childhood and a professor at Iowa State University, agrees. "Montessori is a great curriculum that works really well for some children."

It's not widely used by public schools and may not work for severely disabled kids who need more structure, but the more options for parents, the better, Maude said.

Williamsen said classrooms at Elizabeth Academy won't exceed 20 students. She hopes to offer scholarships by 2010.

Demand is high, especially among parents of special needs children, said Williamsen who has vowed to enroll proportional numbers of gifted, typical and special needs children.

"The diverse mix is so critical for peer mentoring," said Williamsen. "These children all have something to learn from one another. We all have gifts. We need to find what they are, and develop them and respect them."

kstewart@sltrib.com