| Q |
Montessori is just for gifted kids |
| A |
Montessori is for all children. Since Montessori preschools begin working with three year olds in a prepared environment, Montessori students learn to read, write, and understand the world around them in ways that they can easily express. To the casual observer, Montessori students may appear advanced for their age, leading to the assumption that the schools cater to gifted children. |
| Q |
Montessori is affiliated with religion |
| A |
Like many preschools, some Montessori programs may be sponsored by a church or synagogue, but most Montessori schools are established as independent entities. SRMS has no religous affiliation. |
| Q |
In Montessori classrooms children run around and do what they want |
| A |
When looking at a Montessori classroom, you may see twenty five children involved in individual or small group activities. It is possible that each child will be doing something different. At first glance, a classroom can look like a hive of bumblebees. If you take the time to observe the activities of two children over the course of an hour, you should observe a series of self-directed activities. The children aren't running wild. They are each involved in self selected work, designed to build concentration and support independent learning. |
| Q |
A Montessori classroom is too unstructured for my child |
| A |
The Montessori classroom is very structured, but that structure is quite different from a traditional preschool. Maria Montessori observed that children naturally tend to use self selected, purposeful activities to develop themselves. The Montessori classroom, with its prepared activities and trained adults, is structured to promote this natural process of human development. |
| Q |
If Montessori is so great, why aren't former students better known |
| A |
Most of us associate our career success with our colleges. Not too many people come out and say, When I was three years old I went to a Montessori school, and that made all the difference. Here are a few well known people who remember their Montessori education and consider their experiences there vital: Julia Child: Cook and writer/Annie Sullivan: Helen Kellers teacher/Larry Page and Sergei brin: Founders of Google/Jeff Bezos: Founder of Amazon |
| Q |
How is student progress monitored? |
| A |
SRMS doesn't use traditional grading and report cards. Instead we use individual work plans, observations and record keeping to monitor their progress. SRMS does use a few formal evaluations including Accelerated Reader, STAR testing, math fact timed tests and spelling tests. |
| Q |
How much homework is there? |
| A |
The Lower Elementary class has about 15-30 minutes of homework each day. This includes reading aloud or silently, practicing the weekly spelling words and practicing math facts. The Upper Elementary class has roughly 30-45 minutes including reading, math, spelling and Scholastic News as well as cultural work that occasionally needs to be worked on at home. |
