1.      What is the main difference between our Montessori program and the traditional nursery school approach?

There are many differences, but from our perspective the most important is how the learning happens.  In most traditional programs learning is primarily approached from the expectation that it is the teacher’s responsibility to figure out what to teach on any given day and how to do it in a meaningful way that will get that information into the child.  Often it could be characterized as a feeding process.  The primary focus of any given day is the curriculum being covered.

From the Montessori perspective, children want to learn.  That desire is nurtured and supported to develop in a constructive manner by having the child pick and choose activities in the classroom they are interested in.  Through work with various materials the children gradually feel empowered being able to work through activities with success and their ability to have a measure of control over what is going on.  Over the course of time they develop the sense that learning is not something you get carried through – it is something you do when you get your head in gear and apply yourself and this is very satisfying.  It instills a sense of responsibility and a great love of learning by the children.  Meeting the needs and interests of the children – not the curriculum – is the teacher’s primary focus of each day in the classroom.

2.       Why only a five day a week program?

An important component of the Montessori approach is that the children are learning how to be self-directed.  In being self-directed we find the kids will often take the same activity out at some point every day and work with it for a period of time. This may go on for a week or two or even longer.  While they can’t necessarily verbalize why or what it is they do, they are learning something from the activity.  If they only come to school every other day, they have a hard time reconnecting with where they left off.  Their progress and satisfaction with their day is diminished – hence the importance of attending 5 days a week.

3.      Why multiage groupings?

The early childhood class has children from age 3 – 5, preschool and kindergarten.  Children learn from each other.  All children want to be big, grown-up.  While they don’t expect to be doing what adults are doing, if they observe a child that is just a little older than them doing something that they haven’t been introduced to yet, they want to try it – the upward mobility, the desire to try more difficult tasks, comes from within.  For the older children, showing a younger child how to do something is tremendously empowering and gives an immense boost to their self esteem.

4.      When should we enroll?

            We can enroll a child anytime we have an opening – which occurs from time to time during any school year.  Normally most of our enrollment interviews are scheduled in January and February for the following school year.  Often we are full by March or April for the coming year.

5.       What is the enrollment procedure?

We ask that you make an appointment to visit the school, while class is in session – usually in a morning around 9:30 or 10:00 AM.  After observing a classroom for a time we would interview your child while doing some activities from the shelves with them.  At the conclusion of the observation/interview we would normally give you an application which would need to be returned within two weeks along with a $75 application fee and a  refundable, one month deposit.

6.       Other questions? 

Send us an email or give us a call at 631 754 4109.