- What is Montessori, and why choose Country Montessori School for my family?
- The Montessori Method refers to a child-centered philosophy of education developed by the Italian anthropologist and physician Dr. Maria Montessori. The Method is not affiliated with any religious or political organization. Country Montessori School (CMS) provides an authentic Montessori education based on Dr. Montessori’s principles and the standards set forth by the American Montessori Society.
The program’s foundation focuses on encouraging children’s innate desire to learn, providing a prepared child-friendly learning environment, and supporting the need to work at their own pace.
- What is the difference between AMS (American Montessori Society) and AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) schools?
- Dr. Maria Montessori and her son Mario established AMI in 1929. In AMI schools, Montessori philosophy and curriculum are implemented to be consistent with the original approach of Maria Montessori. The Montessori materials are used precisely like Dr. Montessori used without deviation or extensions.
In the late 1950’s Nancy McCormick Rambusch, a young teacher who had undergone AMI Montessori training in London became inspired by reviving Montessori education in America. She soon founded and became headmistress of the Whitby School in Greenwich, Connecticut, which became the flagship school of the American Montessori revival. In 1960 this led to the American Montessori Society (AMS) founding, with Rambusch as its first president. She firmly believed that aspects of the Montessori method had to be modified to accommodate the culture in America. In AMS schools, teachers continue the techniques developed by Dr. Montessori while bringing in outside resources, materials, and ideas to extend or supplement the Montessori curriculum.
- What is meant by the “spiritual” development of the child?
- Inner peace and calm are essential to a child’s readiness to learn and their ability to concentrate. Country Montessori is a secular school. The child’s spiritual development starts in the classroom, where materials are carefully organized on shelves according to a curriculum sequence and with a Montessori-trained faculty. Grace and courtesy, essential elements of a Montessori classroom, are emphasized and modeled by the adults.
- Why are there no grades in a Montessori School?
- Assessment in Montessori is integrated into teaching and lesson planning through various methods such as observation, record-keeping of a child’s practice, mastery of lessons, portfolios, written reports, presentations, and dialogue. Standardized testing is administered yearly to students in the 2nd level and above.
Assessment is a crucial and everyday part of the Country Montessori School (CMS) approach. Teachers integrate the assessment with their lesson planning allowing them to follow the child according to their progress.
Children in a Montessori environment work without competition and coercion. Each child works at their own pace, allowing them to explore intellectual challenges for learning and accomplishment.
- Why are there children of different ages in the same Montessori classroom?
Dr. Montessori observed that multi-age groups represent adult society, and the benefits of peer observation, learning, and collaboration could be successfully implemented in a classroom.
Young children flourish more rapidly in classes that span two or three years. Mixed-age grouping encourages older children to assist and mentor their younger classmates, while the younger ones look forward to moving on to the more challenging activities they see around them. Most importantly, the mixed-age grouping allows children to master work at their own pace. Students move on to advanced topics as they are academically prepared for them, not simply when they reach a given age level.
- Is food provided for my child?
CMS provides a healthy morning snack for Early Childhood children. Elementary children should bring their own snacks, as lunches are not included in the tuition price.
Due to children’s special needs or diets, we ask parents to provide lunch for their children. Parents are expected to send lunches that reflect good nutrition. Lunch options, provided by local restaurants, are also available by special order.