Montessori FAQ

Montessori emphasizes learning through observation, execution, research, and comprehension.  Montessori students learn at their individual pace; however, the teacher’s guide them to make executive choices from the numerous lessons available to them. They also engage daily in practicing material presentations given by the teacher until student mastery. Learning is an exciting process of discovery, leading to concentration, motivation, self-discipline, self- independence, and solid self-esteem. There is no limit to student creativity  in this kind of intelligently guided learning; students surpass what they would be doing in a more traditional settings that mainly use teacher paced textbook work. Montessori classrooms encourage deep learning of the concepts behind academic skills rather than rote practice of abstract techniques.

Multi-age classrooms are realistically based on the outside world, society, and community (which is different from traditional classrooms).  Society is not filled with children of the same age.  With the mixed- age concept students are encouraged to help each other. This format allows older children to be the leaders of the classroom community, assisting the young while developing empathy. The younger students aim to emulate the older student's capabilities thus helping their own progress to move faster. Older students also review their own work when they help the younger students. Students get along as a community by respecting peers of varying ages and capabilities.

Montessori children are guided to choose their work within their capabilities and talents; with age- appropriate responsibility teachers channel students towards independently choosing their own lessons.  Our teachers record the progress of each student weekly and guide them at a suitable pace of learning in all subjects, ensuring a well-rounded academic plan for each individual student.

For a general overview of the daily schedule , please refer to the "Typical Day" tab on this website which will give you a description of the day's routine. Curriculum descriptions are listed under Academic Programs of each age group. We encourage punctual and consistent attendance to gain the full benefits of the program. Keep in mind Montessori progression is sequential, built on daily work performance and practice. 

Montessori Education is a sequential progression that builds on skill mastery through repetition and reviews, therefore, teachers cannot give daily reports/accounts/narratives on each child’s progress or activities. 

Teachers observe each student’s progress and document it weekly. Thereafter formal report cards are issued to parents three times a year. Formal Parent/Teacher Conferences are held twice a year to discuss the teachers’ assessment of their child’s progress. The Conferences together with Report Cards inform parents of sequential academic progress of their child, their social development, and mastery of fundamental skills. Montessori believes in individually paced progress, and therefore does not assign letter grades or rank students within each class according to their achievements. 

Parents can also meet teachers throughout the year by calling the campus your child attends to make appointments to meet teachers, at times convenient to both teacher and parent.

Traditional Montessori schools do not assign homework  or " busy work".  Students work hard on academics during their school day and the "over-kill" of sending more work home ends up with frustration. When it is assigned, it rarely involves page after page of worksheets; instead, students are given meaningful, interesting assignments that expand on the topics that they pursue in class. Teachers give opportunities for students to work on several projects, book reports, dioramas, spelling etc. throughout the year.

The primary goal of Montessori is to create a culture of consistency, order, and empowerment.  Therefore, traditional Montessori schools encourage children to attend five days a week. Two- and three-day programs are often very attractive to parents who do not need full-time childcare. However, five-day programs create consistency that is immensely important towards steady and solid academic and social progress.

Montessori is ideal for the gifted child. Children who are gifted and talented find the Montessori Method of Education to be intellectually challenging and stimulating due to its focus on developing intrinsic motivation. Children are not restricted by the progress of classmates and each child can excel to the level of academics they are comfortable with.