Since my daughter Sophie started attending a Montessori preschool recently, I have gotten many questions about what it is, how it works, how to find a good one, and what to do if Montessori school is not an option. Please note that Montessori school is far from the only good option even if you practice Montessori at home; more on this below.
What Is Montessori School?
Montessori schools vary greatly, as the name is not trademarked or regulated. So, it is important to know that schools can be called "Montessori" without actually being true to the Montessori philosophy. Good Montessori schools practice the principles of Montessori. They promote autonomy and enable accessibility, utilize Montessori or Montessori-aligned materials, allow children to choose their own work most of the time, discipline using respectful/conscious practices, and give lots of time outside. While many good Montessori schools are not Montessori-accredited for a variety of reasons, it is important that at least the lead guide (teacher) in each classroom is Montessori certified from AMI, AMS, or a MACTE accredited program.
High-quality Montessori schools follow the specific Montessori curriculum, which certified guides are highly trained in. The curriculum includes five main components: language (reading & writing), mathematics, sensorial (training of the 5 senses), cultural (science, history, geography, art & music), and practical life (life skills including cooking, cleaning, care of self, and grace & courtesy, essentially a combination of manners, social skills, and social emotional learning). Dr. Montessori developed specific materials to be used for the teaching of many of these areas, such as the sandpaper letters and moveable alphabet for the language curriculum and the pink tower and brown stair for the sensorial curriculum. Good Montessori schools have these traditional Montessori materials and the guides are knowledgeable about teaching with them.
Quality Montessori schools also have a dedicated work cycle each day. This is traditionally three hours in Primary (ages 3-6) and up, but is likely to be shorter in a toddler classroom and could depend on other school factors. Even if the work cycle is not three full hours, there should be an uninterrupted, dedicated work cycle time every day where the children are free to move about the room and choose their own work while the guides give lessons to individual or small groups of children. The children choose their work from shelves or accessible areas around the classroom. It may be on a tray if it has multiple components. Children generally work at a child-sized table, floor table, or work mat on the floor. Montessori schools may also have work areas outside adjacent to the classroom where children can work.
Ages: Montessori preschools called primary or Children's House are the most common and serve the 3 to 6 age range, but Montessori preschools and daycares may have toddler and even infant (Nido) classes. Sophie's school is a preschool that starts at 18 months and goes to 5 years. They have toddler (18 months to 2.5 or 3 years old) and primary / Children's House (2.5 or 3 years old to 5 years old) classes. There also are Montessori elementary schools, generally divided up into lower elementary (1st to 3rd grades) and upper elementary (4th to 6th grades). Montessori middle and high schools also exist, although are much less common.
What Makes Montessori School Different from Traditional Preschool or Daycare?
I have worked in education for many years and have spent a lot of time in non-Montessori schools (including teaching!). Nowadays, many good schools incorporate certain Montessori-like practices, so the points will not all be true for every traditional school. Every school is different, so please keep in mind that these are generalizations, and one is not always better than the other. However, here are some of the things I often notice:
Traditional schools often focus more on whole-group instruction and activities, such as doing more circle times and lessons "on the rug." Montessori schools usually have some whole-group activities, but spend more time allowing children to work independently or in small groups. Montessori guides give more individual or small group lessons than whole group ones in order to meet the children's' varying needs. The instruction in Montessori schools tends to more differentiated because whole-group instruction is not a focus and the children are able to each work on different skills and activities.
Traditional schools generally use more open-ended, often plastic, materials. They often have items like blocks, dollhouses, and "centers" such as the home living center. Montessori schools have mostly materials that are made of natural materials such as wood and are more closed-ended, such as puzzles and sorting activities, in addition to traditional Montessori materials, such as knobbed cylinders and the pink tower.
In traditional schools children generally have less freedom to choose their work. Although they might get to choose what to do during play time, they often rotate through set centers or stations or the whole class sits down to work on the same activity or worksheet. In Montessori schools, the children generally have more freedom to choose their work during the majority of the school day.
Traditional preschools and schools usually use more worksheets and teacher-directed activities, while Montessori schools generally focus on physical hands-on materials and individual or small group activities that are less teacher-led.
Traditional schoolchildren may not spend as much time outside and in natural settings as Montessori schoolchildren. Montessori schools often offer an outdoor classroom that is an extension of the indoor classroom and a more natural outdoor play setting. Children in Montessori schools may spend a large quantity of the day outdoors.
Traditional schools may use more traditional discipline practices, such as time-outs or moving a clip on a color behavior chart, while Montessori schools usually use respectful/conscious discipline practices. This is one that has definitely been changing for the better in traditional schools though, and many traditional schools now use respectful/conscious discipline.
Traditional daycare and preschool teachers may or may not have a degree or certification, although high-quality traditional schools often require the lead teacher to have a degree in an early childhood related field. Montessori lead guides should always have a Montessori certification in the age group that they teach from a high-quality accreditation program, and Montessori assistant guides often are working toward their certification.
Traditional schools often do "cutesy" guided arts and crafts that all turn out pretty much the same; in Montessori school children generally engage in art activities that focus more on the process and are more child-led.
Montessori schools generally focus more on practical life and self-care skills than traditional schools. Practical life skills may include things like cleaning up the classroom, preparing food, and caring for classroom plants and pets.
Our Childcare / School Journey
Sophie was with a babysitter one-on-one (or sometimes with grandparents, who live out of town but visit often) up until 19 months old, and she will stay with her sitter a few days per week for now while attending school the other days. Her babysitter is not into Montessori like I am, but does apply many of the foundational principles of the philosophy such as respect for the child and promoting independence. Having Sophie with her babysitter and grandparents has been an amazing experience because she has learned so many new things from them, and we are so glad she has had so many caring, loving adults in her life.
We chose to send Sophie to a Montessori preschool because I love the Montessori philosophy and think attending a Montessori school will be beneficial for her. My husband and I both work full-time, so she has to be in some type of care during the day, and now that she is getting older we prefer for it to be a Montessori school environment where she can learn new things and socialize with other children and adults. Where we live, the Montessori preschools are within the same price range as the other high-quality preschool programs we looked at (such as play-based, Spanish immersion, etc.), so the cost was not a significant factor.
The school district we live in has a Montessori elementary school that uses a lottery to get into it, so we will likely try to get Sophie in there for elementary school. My husband and I also work at a very good traditional private school, but cost will play a major role in whether that is another option.
What if Montessori School Isn't an Option for Your Family?
Montessori school may not be an option for many families depending upon whether there are high-quality Montessori schools in your area, how much they cost, whether you work or stay home, and many other factors. Not to worry! There are so many other great options as well, and you can still practice Montessori at home no matter what type of school your child attends.
Montessori homeschool: Montessori homeschool is a popular option for many families who have a stay-at-home parent. If you are interested in homeschooling, even just for the toddler and/or preschool years, Montessori homeschool is a great option! Child of the Redwoods is a fantastic resource for Montessori homeschool (and there are may others as well).
Reggio Emilia: Reggio Emilia is a philosophy with lots of similarities to Montessori, including being child-led, hands-on, and focusing on the environment as another teacher. Many preschools are Reggio Emilia based or inspired.
Play-based preschool: Play-based preschools often have many similarities to Montessori in that they are child-led and generally respectful in discipline practices. These can be a great option for children.
Forest, farm or nature school: Forest, farm or nature schools are other wonderful options. They may have many similarities to Montessori schools, including being child-led, hands-on, and providing lots of time outdoors.
Language immersion school: If you would like your child to learn another language, a language immersion school might be the right choice for your family. Attending an immersion school is a great way for a young child to learn another language.
Traditional high-quality school: There are many fantastic traditional preschools and schools out there! Look for one that aligns with your values and maybe some aspects of Montessori. Many schools now incorporate some of the Montessori philosophy into their teaching styles.
No matter what type of school you choose (or don't choose, if you homeschool) for your child, you can still practice Montessori at home! Your child will benefit from the implementation of Montessori at home regardless of the school setting they are in during the day. What is important is that they are in an environment that is safe, caring, and where their needs are met.
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