WHY MONTESSORI

IS IT RIGHT FOR MY CHILD?

RESOURCES

Here are some online resources to help you decide if a Montessori-style education is right for your child. If you still have questions after watching the videos, just let us know. We would love for your child to join us for a free Discovery Day!

Montessori Madness! A Parent Guide

Trevor Eissler, the children’s book author and international speaker, is the parent of three Montessori-educated children. In his book Montessori Madness! A Parent to Parent Argument for Montessori Education, he makes the case that Montessori education best prepares children for the world outside of the classroom.

Montessori Education for the Early Childhood Years

The DVD “Nurturing the Love of Learning” – produced by the American Montessori Society (www.amshq.org) – shows how Montessori education nurtures learning for children from the ages of 3 to 6. Over 1,000 schools are using this DVD to educate parents. It is available for purchase from www.edvid.com.

Watch the “Love of Learning” Video Excerpt

Follow the Child

Montessori teachers introduce students to learning material and exercises that are both compelling and developmentally appropriate. Your child chooses from the classroom shelves when he or she is ready. The classroom is filled with excellent choices.

Children innately desire to repeat lessons until they gain a sense of mastery. At times, your child may choose to return to a previously mastered activity to re-experience the confidence-building feelings that mastery provides. In these ways and more, the Montessori education serves to “follow the child.”

Comparison of Montessori and Traditional Education

Montessori

Emphasis on Cognitive and Social Development

Teacher has guiding role

Environment and method encourage self-discipline

Primary individual instruction

Mixed age groups

Grouping encourages children to teach and collaborate

Child chooses own work

Child discovers own concepts from self-teaching materials

Child is allocated time to work on and complete lessons

Child sets own learning pace

Child spots own errors from feedback on material

Traditional

Emphasis on Rote Learning and Social Behavior

Teach controls classroom

Teacher acts as primary enforcer of discipline

Mainly group instruction

Same age groups

Teaching is done by teacher; collaboration is discouraged

Curriculum structured for child

Child is guided to concepts by teachers

Child generally allotted specific time for work

Instruction pace set by group

Errors in child's work highlighted by teacher

Still Not Convinced?

Contact us and we’ll answer any questions you have about a Montessori Education.