What is the best time to start a child?
Why should the Montessori Pre-School experience be five days?
How is a child's progress measured?
How are the parents involved?
Is Montessori Expensive?
Should I continue my child in the Montessori Elementary program?

What is the best time to start a child?
Maria Montessori outlined various periods of "sensitivity". During these times, a child is more capable of and interested in learning specific concepts. At age 2 ½ to 3 ½, a special sense of order, concentration, coordination and independence begins to emerge. This time is ideal to begin a child's training in Montessori as she is at the perfect period to build a strong foundation for future learning.

Parents should understand that the Montessori school is neither a baby-sitting service nor a play school that prepares a child for traditional kindergarten. Rather, it is a unique school whose program is designed to take advantage of the child's sensitive years when she can absorb information from an enriched environment.

A child who acquires the basic skills of reading and arithmetic in this natural way has the advantage of beginning her education without drudgery, boredom or discouragement. By pursuing her individual interests in a Montessori classroom, she gains an early enthusiasm for learning which is the key to her becoming a truly "educated" person.

Why should the Montessori Pre-School experience be five days?
The Montessori classroom experience must take place for five consecutive days in order to allow the spontaneous learning of the child to flow smoothly. A child taken in and out of school every other day does not have the same opportunity to pursue his unfolding interests.

How is a child's progress measured?
Each child progresses at his own pace in a Montessori classroom. Daily observations are noted by the Directress as to the use of specific materials. Each child is evaluated individually, considering progress made, physical abilities, interest, motivation, etc. The classroom is open-ended - a child can advance as far as abilities allow and in a noncompetitive atmosphere.

Parents are always invited to observe their child at work. Each semester, Parents' Conference Days are scheduled to acquaint the parents with the child's academic and social development. A written evaluation is given to the parents at the end of each semester.

How are the parents involved?
Just as the five day Montessori class is necessary for the continuity of learning, so it is necessary to continue the process at home. Parents are asked to reinforce the basic principles of Montessori at home and to provide a home environment conducive to the preparation for life.

Parents are informed of the Montessori philosophy and materials through Parent-Teacher meetings and reference books, which are available in the school library. They are able to participate in many classroom experiences and the construction of materials. The support and interest of the parents are vital to the Montessori program and required to insure a successful experience for the child.

Is Montessori Expensive?
Tuition in Montessori schools throughout the country is usually higher than other schools because of the extensive materials, encompassing environment, curriculum and trained staff. It is, however, a very reasonable cost in contrast to other activities you would plan for your child. It becomes a matter of what you value most. To give your child the finest possible experience in his most sensitive years is to give him a strong foundation throughout his life and probably ward off investment to correct or remedy that which was missed. Many educators believe that it is wiser to invest in a child's primary education than his college education. The child who enjoys learning and becomes self-directed at the critical primary age will benefit through all his years of learning. The expense now is a profitable long-term investment.

Should I continue my child in the Montessori Elementary program?
Generally, parents are very pleased with their child's primary (3-6 year old) experience. They find that their child is an enthusiastic learner, eager to come to school. This joy of learning continues in the elementary years where the child moves away from the concrete which was the foundation of his primary years to the abstract where (s)he has the opportunity to develop socially, morally and academically. A child who has completed a Montessori elementary program will have developed competence in both social and cognitive areas. The student will have experienced firsthand the value of working cooperatively in a community where there is trust. The student will have learned that one may use both concrete information and one's own imagination to explore the world, while understanding the importance of taking responsibility for one's own work and creating a personal code of morals.