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Q: Does a Montessori class cover the same academic subjects as other schools?
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| A: Montessori embraces the whole human being. Art, music, and science aren't treated as separate subjects. They are all integrated into the environment for each child's explorations. For example, children learn grammar by putting together a school newspaper. |
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Q: Does Montessori help only the gifted?
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A: Montessori is built around the traits and tendencies of all children, including those who are gifted. Dr. Maria Montessori's scientific research examined many different kinds of children, not just one select group.
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Q: With the Montessori philosophy of freedom, how do you teach discipline and how do you enforce it?
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| A: The freedom allowed in the room is contained within very strict parameters, which are clearly defined very early on in the school year. Yes the child is free to move around, talk to others, work at his/her own pace, as long as all this activity is with a purpose and does not infringe on the rights of his/her fellow students to do the same. Walk into a classroom at any given day, and you will witness a quiet hum of activity, and that is how it should be. We do not expect the children to sit quietly waiting to be directed by the teacher. After a lesson is given, the children are expected to proceed on their own, and in order to do this there will be a certain amount of movement and discussion. Being children, of course there are some who take longer than others to deal with this freedom. The teacher has to be adept at monitoring and redirecting children as and when necessary. Children are very visual, and some use this to help maintain discipline, by means of a "Good Citizen Chart." Each child has four cards on the chart: green, yellow, orange, and red. The day starts with all green cards, and if a freedom rule is infringed the card goes to yellow, then orange then red. The children do not like to see the chart change color, and are therefore given an effective reminder to use their freedom wisely. Each child has a citizenship form and if they stay away from the red card all week, they get a smile sticker that week. This helps give the children a feeling of accomplishment and well-being while at the same time instilling good discipline. |
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| Q: How does a Montessori classroom balance freedom and expression with community and cooperation? |
| A: The Montessori classroom is a microcosm of society where mutual acceptance and cooperation flourish within a context of individual freedom. It is a social and caring environment where the children are respected but also responsible for their own actions. |
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| Q: How do Montessori children adjust to traditional school? |
| A: Montessori children develop self-discipline and self-motivation, enabling them to adapt easily to new environments. The value of community instills in children the ability to form secure relationships wherever they go. |
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| Q: What are the benefits of my student staying with the same teacher for 3 years? |
| A: Montessori classes bring children together in multi-age groups, rather than a class of one age group. Children stay with their teacher for three years. This allows the teacher to develop close and long-term relationships with their students, allows them to know each child's learning style, and encourages a strong sense of community among the children. |
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| Q: How do you teach different age levels? |
| A: Through observation. We observe the needs of the child and understand their sensitive periods for acquiring knowledge. We present an activity to a child, observe if they understand the concept, and then leave the child to continue working with the activity independently. The multi-age, multi-level curriculum allows the children to work as far and as fast as they need, or to work slowly with a more gently increase of challenge. They do not have to wait while the whole class catches up or struggle with activities that are too complex. They each work at their own pace and their own independent level. |
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| Q: What is the best way to communicate with my student's teacher? |
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A: The best way to communicate is through email, or a note placed in the teacher's mail box. Telephoning the school is not a good idea, as we are not able to come to the office during class time. All the teachers have an Arborland email address. Please get your teacher's address from the office, and direct your questions to them.
We request, with respect, that if you have an urgent question, the morning is not a good time, as we are rushing to get our class started and will not be able to give you the full attention you deserve. It is best to make an appointment for such matters, or we will be happy to meet with you after 3:15 p.m. We are usually in the room until 4:30 p.m., and sometimes later.
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| Q: What are the areas of responsibility in the classroom for the team teachers? |
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A: Good team teaching is of great benefit for the children, and also for the teachers involved. We have excellent team teaching situations when necessary. In any team teaching situation, both teachers teach, though one is a lead teacher simply for having been around longer and having had more experience. For good team teaching, both teachers need to know what is being taught to all children, observe all children and be fully informed to each child's progress. To do this effectively, the teachers constantly meet and discuss lesson plans and progress. Record keeping and progress is tracked jointly. Each teacher is able to take over, without notice, to teach any area in any subject to any level. The teaching requirement for the whole year is jointly planned. Each teacher executes weekly plans/daily plans based on the yearly forecast. It may take a lot of time putting the plan in place, but once done, it is an excellent guide for team teaching.
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| Q: I want my child to go to public school because it is larger and they establish new and more friends. |
| A: The concern should not be the quantity of children your child is exposed to but the quality of attention they will receive in a smaller setting. In this smaller setting, the children learn to cooperate with one another, how to collaborate and work together. They learn to nurture and to care for others because they are supervised more closely. We encourage friendships and being kind to others. Because we are with your child for so many years, we become more aware of their needs and are able to see their uniqueness. |
