Frequently Asked Questions

For children six and under, Montessori emphasizes learning through all five senses. Children in Montessori classes learn at their own pace and according to their own choice of activities from hundreds of possibilities. They are engaged in individual or group activities, with materials that have been introduced to them 1 on 1 by a Montessori certified teacher. 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 presentations, 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. 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 allow for the older students to take on a leadership role in guiding the younger students. This builds confidence in the child and a strong sense of community within the classroom. As Dr. Montessori stated, “There are many things which no teacher can convey to a child of three, but a child of five can do it with ease.”

No. Montessori educates children without reference to a religious denomination. As a result, our classrooms are extremely diverse, with representation from all peoples, cultures, and religions.

The term Montessori is not trademarked and anyone, regardless of training, experience or affiliation can open a “Montessori” school. It is essential that parents researching Montessori act as good consumers to ensure the authenticity of their chosen program.

Montessori schools may be best known for their programs with young children, but the underlying educational method describes programs for students up through high school.

Montessori children are free to choose within limits, and have only as much freedom as they can handle with appropriate responsibility. With careful note-taking and progress tracking, the classroom teacher and assistant ensure that  each child is progressing at their 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 them for information and activity, the classroom shows a child-centered 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 memorization of abstract concepts. The success of our students appears in the experiences of our alumni, who compete successfully with traditionally educated students in a variety of high schools and universities.

Montessori classrooms emphasize competition with oneself: self-monitoring, self-correction, and a variety of other executive skills aimed at continuous improvement. Students typically become comfortable with their strengths and learn how to address their weaknesses. In older classes, students commonly participate in competitive activities with clear “winners” (auditions for limited theater roles, the annual spelling bee, etc.) in which students give their best performances while simultaneously encouraging peers to do the same. It is a healthy competition in which all contenders are content that they did their best in an environment with clear and consistent rules.