Montessori FAQ's

This post will focus on FAQs and misconceptions about Montessori schools and education.

Why do the Montessori students have to work instead of play? Shouldn't kids be having fun?
Dr. Montessori realized that play is the work of children – play is how children master their own bodies and explore the world around them – to reflect the importance of play, the term “work” was used to describe all of the child's classroom activities that support their learning. The children do not experience fatigue or boredom when “working” because it feeds their development like eating feeds the body. (photo from http://trilliummontessori.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Trillium-Preschool-Practical-Life-Page-Image-3.jpg. Trillium Montessori has a great site and blog: http://trilliummontessori.org/)


My child's Montessori School blends traditional and Montessori methods. That still means they are Montessori, right?
Sadly, no. Having worked in both traditional and Montessori settings and having at least some formal training in both, I can confidently tell you that you cannot blend curriculums and still have a Montessori education. The basic foundations of the Montessori method are too different. (See my first post) Montessori teachers spend a year being trained in Montessori method and lessons for a single developmental age group. A traditional school calling themselves Montessori by including some Montessori lessons is akin to me saying that I'm fluent in Italian by using an Italian accent and using some real Italian words - I love languages and I can speak beautiful English but I really can't speak Italian.

I've heard that children in Montessori schools are allowed to do whatever they want all the time. Is this true?
Students in Montessori classrooms are given more freedom than in traditional school systems; however, their freedom occurs within appropriate social and safety limits. For instance, a child can choose whatever lesson is appropriate for them as long as they treat the materials properly. Any behaviour that would negatively affect the learning or safety of themselves or other students would not be allowed.
The freedom is given because research and 100 years of Montessori experience, show that a child learns best if they have some choice and control of their own environment. Freedom and choice supports the development of self-control, self-discipline, independence, and the love of learning.


Why do Montessori schools group little kids with bigger ones?
The multi-aged classrooms (ie. 3-6 years) were developed to allow children within a similar developmental period to learn together and support each other. The older children learn empathy, leadership, and responsibility while helping the younger children. They take pride in knowing that they are learning more complex things. The younger children often learn better from the older children. Cooperation, collaboration, patience, acceptance, and trust are learned through real interactions with others of various ages and abilities.


What about the Ontario Kindergarten Curriculum; do you follow it?
The Ontario Curriculum will be used as a minimum guideline. Although every child and situation is different, the Montessori method tends to produce results that often exceed the Ontario Curriculum.


I've heard that the Montessori method is only for children who are gifted or have special needs. Is this true?
The beauty of the Montessori method is that it is designed around the individual child but based upon the natural development of all children. The Montessori method was originally created through the observation and interaction with impoverished, needful children and produced above average results. It is understandable that someone might think that it is for only the gifted or those who have special needs. Sadly, the Ontario government does not support education outside of their curriculum so Montessori schools must be private, for-pay institutions. The truth is: The Montessori method is for all types of children because it allows children to progress as carefully and as quickly as they are able. Each Montessori taught child progresses when they are ready, not when the class is ready.


Why is a Montessori teacher called “Directress”
Teaching in the Montessori classroom is a bit different than in the traditional school. In the Montessori method, the child is their own first teacher. Just like animals have instincts, human children at this age have a ingrained sense of what and when they need to learn. The Montessori Directress (or Director) is trained to observed and recognize these learning stages and then “directs” or guides the ready child to the most suitable lessons.


Are there different kinds of Montessori schools?
There are true Montessori schools and then there are daycares or schools that call themselves Montessori. Sadly, the name Montessori is not a registered trademark so anyone can use it in their school name. My first post (Sept 2013) will tell you how to quickly recognize a school that follows the Montessori method and philosoply. My second post has photos and facts on typical Montessori Casa/Primary classroom around the world.
There are minor differences between the authentic Montessori schools. This I will discuss in a later post. For now, I will simply say that some Ontario schools prefer their Montessori teachers to be graduated and certified by one of the three internationally known training programs: Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), American Montessori Society (AMS), and Toronto Montessori Institute (TMI). In Ontario, there are these three as well as other training programs, but all graduates should end up certified by MACTE (Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education)


I've heard that Montessori is too structured / I've heard that Montessori isn't structured enough.
The Montessori method sets out rules of appropriate behaviour for social and safety reasons. As long as the child is appropriate and respectful to others and the materials, they can explore the lessons and materials as creatively and as often as they wish.
If a child needs more direct, or one-on-one attention, that can also be accommodated in several ways. The Directress will provide appropriate guidance for each child. Also, the multi-age classroom can be beneficial because all children are encouraged to help others with lessons.


Was Dr. Maria Montessori against fantasy and creativity?
Dr. Montessori was NOT against fantasy and creativity. She realized that the children where in an intense developmental stage where they needed to experience and learn about real life. Children of this age love to pretend to sweep, add, cook, socialize, read, write notes, sew, ... It's obvious that children are focused on real activities; the Montessori classroom lets them explore real activities and skills. The children love to pretend to be grown-up by learning real skills that help them be more confident, and capable.


Doesn't Montessori force academics on children before they're ready?
In the Montessori method, the Directress provides appropriate lessons to each child according to their capability and developmental level. This method involves lessons and methods that carefully and incrementally lead a child to the next lesson.

Image the focus and creativity that
went into this masterpiece!

Montessori materials are bad for learning; lessons aren't "open" - the children can only use them one way and that restricts their learning.

This was one of the misconceptions I came across in Early Childhood courses. Montessori materials may appear to be 'closed' because the Directress will instruct the child in one correct way. Also, many Montessori lessons are self correcting, meaning they will lead a child to the understanding of a concept (ie. 1+1=2) without the help of a teacher. However, after that initial lesson, the child is able to use them however they wish, as long as they are respectful to the materials and others. You can see Montessori students spontaneously realize relationships with other lessons and combine them. They can also see the connection with the 'real world' and explore with it. 
Montessori is about laying the foundation then letting the child explore. (Photo from http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_aDDipU0zTAs/S-8YWcmfo0I/AAAAAAAAABs/fDgaARKpL7s/s1600/Grand+sensorial+extension.jpeg. Go check out Ms. Tracy's blog http://blueheartgold.blogspot.ca/)