Finding the perfect preschool for your child can seem like a daunting task…
What makes an authentic Montessori preschool?
When considering a Montessori preschool, it can be challenging to ensure that the school truly embodies authentic Montessori principles.
Dr. Maria Montessori’s educational model, despite its attention to detail, was never trademarked or copyrighted. This lack of legal protection allows schools to advertise their programs as Montessori, leading to a wide range of interpretations and potential misrepresentation of what a genuine Montessori education should look like.
To assist you in evaluating potential schools, we have compiled a checklist of essential markers to consider. This checklist is structured to align with the typical experience of a school tour, guiding your observations effectively.
What should I look for during my preschool tour?
The School
Does the school feel peaceful, organized and welcoming?
- The school team emphasizes the Montessori Method and its role in fostering the holistic development of children, extending beyond just academic learning.
- Nature is integrated into the curriculum, providing students with opportunities to care for plants and maintain gardens.
- The staff exemplifies grace and courtesy, interacting with respect, patience, and kindness towards both adults and children.
- The educators, are certified Montessori teachers from accredited institutions.
The Classroom
Does the preschool follow a three-year cycle?
- Children are organized into mixed-age classrooms.
- The furniture is tailored to the children’s height, ensuring that learning materials are easily accessible.
- Learning environments are adaptable, featuring small-group tables and work rugs, instead of traditional desks.
- The classroom operates in a child-led manner, rather than being dictated by the teacher.
- The guide follows a three-hour work cycle, and can explain the significance of these work cycles in relation to essential skills such as concentration, growth mindset, executive functioning, and intrinsic motivation.
The Children
Are children allowed to move freely as part of their learning experience?
- The guide can describe the Montessori principle of “freedom within limits” and how it differs from a free-range approach.
- Children are encouraged to take responsibility for themselves, their peers, and their classroom environment.
- Discipline is approached through natural and logical consequences rather than systems of reward and punishment.
- Grace and courtesy are used to model social interactions.
- Support is provided for children’s academic, social, and emotional growth based on fostering intrinsic motivation.
- There are no reward charts, bribes, punishments, or excessive praise. Children learn to assess their own achievements instead of relying on external validation.
- Traditional worksheets, quizzes, and tests are not used. Instead, assessment is integrated into ongoing lessons and through the guide’s daily, individualized observations of each child’s work.
The Materials
Do the guides trust that Montessori does not need supplementing with other materials and activities?
- The learning materials are of high quality and natural, made from wood, glass, and metal instead of plastic.
- Opportunities for art and music exploration are readily available.
- The guide can articulate the significance of “control of error.”
- The guide is able to explain the progression of Montessori materials.
- The guide can clarify Montessori’s principle of “concrete before abstract.”
- The guide can discuss the role of creativity in the classroom and how it relates to Montessori’s focus on providing children with real-world experiences.
- The guide can elaborate on the concepts of “work” and “play” within a Montessori framework, highlighting how they are essentially the same.
At Roots & Wings, we consider each of these characteristics as essential to establishing the firm foundations for your child’s infinite development. When you come for a tour, bring the checklist above and remember to educate yourself on what is important to look for in a successful preschool program. It is useful to have a basic understanding of Montessori before your tour. Learn more on how Montessori benefits your child:
The Montessori Method: Education for Life (short documentary)
How Montessori Prepares Children for the Real World (our blog!)
The Roots & Wings Team
Interested to know more? Contact us today for a tour!
