FAQ

For children six and under, Montessori emphasizes learning through all five senses, not just through listening, watching, or reading. Children in Montessori classes learn at their own, individual pace and according to their own choice of activities from hundreds of possibilities. They are not required to sit and listen to a teacher talk to them as a group, but are engaged in individual or group activities of their own, with materials that have been introduced to them 1:1 by the teacher who knows what each child is ready to do. Learning is an exciting process of discovery, leading to concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of learning. Above age six children learn to do independent research, arrange field trips to gather information, interview specialists, create group presentation, dramas, art exhibits, musical productions, science projects, and so forth. There is no limit to what they create in this kind of intelligently guided freedom. There are no text books or adult-directed group lessons or daily schedule. There is great respect for the choices of the children, but they easily keep up with or surpass what they would be doing in a more traditional setting. There is no wasted time and children enjoy their work and study. The children ask each other for lessons and much of the learning comes from sharing and inspiring each other instead of competing.

Multi-age classrooms afford us the luxury of adapting the curriculum to the individual child. Each child can work at his or her own pace while remaining in the community with his or her peers. In addition, the multi-age format allows all older children to be the leaders of the classroom community even those children who may be shy or quiet.

Montessori children are free to choose within limits, and have only as much freedom as they can handle with appropriate responsibility. The classroom teacher and assistant ensure that children do not interfere with each other, and that each child is progressing at her appropriate pace in all subjects.

The different arrangement of a Montessori classroom mirrors the Montessori method’s differences from traditional education. Rather than putting the teacher at the focal point of the class, with children dependent on her for information and activity, the classroom shows a literally child-centred approach. Children work at tables or on floor mats where they can spread out their materials, and the teacher circulates about the room, giving lessons or resolving issues as they arise.

Yes. Montessori classrooms encourage deep learning of the concepts behind academic skills rather than rote practice of abstract techniques. The success of our students appears in the experiences of our alumni, who compete successfully with traditionally educated students in a variety of primary schools.

Montessori is designed to help all children reach their fullest potential at their own unique pace. A classroom whose children have varying abilities is a community in which everyone learns from one another and everyone contributes. Moreover, multi-age grouping allows each child to find his or her own pace without feeling “ahead” or “behind” in relation to peers

All Montessori schools are not created equal. Maria Montessori, one of the first female physicians in Italy, developed and perfected her method without trademarking the term. This means any school can refer to itself as “Montessori or Montessori based” without actually adhering to, or in some cases, understanding what that means (there is no such thing as Montessori-like or Montessori based).

Parents need to educate themselves on what an authentic Montessori school environment should be.

1. Multi-age Classrooms:

• In Montessori Primary classrooms, children aged 3-6 learn together.
• Younger children benefit from observing and interacting with older peers.
• Older children develop leadership and confidence by teaching younger ones.

2. Montessori Materials:

• Montessori classrooms use hands-on materials to illustrate abstract concepts.
• Not all attractive, wooden toys found online are true Montessori materials.

3. Three-Hour Work Cycle:

• Montessori schools offer an uninterrupted 3-hour block for Primary age (2-hour for PrePrimary) to enhance focus and concentration skills.
• This contrasts with traditional preschools that have frequent transitions between activities.

4. Montessori Teacher Training:

• Montessori teachers undergo 1-2 years of accredited training, learning over 50 steps for presenting each lesson.
• They complete a 180-day teaching practice with multiple observations by a mentor teacher, receiving feedback to refine their teaching methods.
• Effective teaching in Montessori education relies not just on materials but on how they are introduced by a well-trained teacher