Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the role of the teacher in the Montessori classroom?
A. Dr. Maria Montessori saw the adult in the classroom as a guide for the child in his natural impulse to learn; therefore the adult is referred to as the "directress." It is the directress who connects the child's intellectual and physical growth and development within the classroom.


Q. I thought Montessori was only for gifted kids or for slow learners?
A. Since classroom work is done individually, each child can succeed at his own pace. More important than the speed of grasping a concept is the process the child goes through to come to a conclusion. Being "child-centered" allows Montessori education to fit any learning style.


Q. What is the best age to enter Montessori school?
A. Dr. Montessori's observations showed the child's mind being the most absorbent between 2-1/2 and 6 years of age. It is during this time period a child longs to expand his horizon and his experiences beyond the home.


Q. What does the word "work" mean in the Montessori classroom?
A. Work is the self-chosen activity of the child. Work is not just "labor." It is fulfilling experiences that the child enjoys."A child can only develop by means of experiences in his environment. We call such experiences' work.'" ~ - Dr. Maria Montessori


Q. With so much freedom, how does a child learn discipline?
A. The child is free to work and build himself in a way that is respectful of the environment and his peers. There are well-defined rules of conduct and he is not free to harm himself, others or the environment. The Montessori environment is especially designed to promote concentration, which in turn teaches self-discipline.


Q. How is creativity promoted in the classroom?
A. Creativity is not limited to art or music. Each child possesses individual creativity while he forms his personality and his ability to operate in his world. While the Montessori Method does incorporate art and music, we must remember the environment is specifically designed to challenge and stimulate creativity within the child's mind.


Q. Why are there children of different ages in the same classroom?
A. Children learn from each other. If a child has the opportunity to teach a concept, (for example, an older child teaches letter sounds to a younger child) the older child has developed to a much deeper level of understanding of the concept being taught.