FAQs about Montessori

	Is Montessori only for certain types of children?
	The Montessori Method of education is not directed at any particular type of child. In fact, Montessori is advantageous for many different styles of learning. Some children learn better by touching, some by listening, and some by doing: there are many ways children become successful in a Montessori classroom.

	I've always heard that a Montessori classroom is unstructured. Is that true?
	Actually, a Montessori classroom is one of the most structured environments you will ever encounter. The classroom operates on a balance between the freedoms, or choices, offered a child and self-discipline. It is a different kind of structure. There is a place for everything, and everything is in its place. The child is only allowed to work with materials on which she has been given a lesson. A child may only have one piece of work out at a time. She needs to finish her work. She must put her work back on the shelf where it belongs before she takes out anything else. And, she must be sure the work is ready to use for the next person when it is put away. If it is floor work, the child must place the work on a work mat. This defines the child’s work space. No one is allowed to step on anyone’s mat. This teaches respect for others and respect for other's space. The child will roll up the work mat when finished and put it away. Everything in the environment is structured, except for the child’s time. She may work with any piece of material for as long as she likes. This helps develop concentration in the child when she is not constantly interrupted by the adult to change activities. We trust the child knows when she is finished with work and is ready to put it away. This develops a sense of accomplishment in the child and a pride in work that is completed. In traditional classrooms, it is only the child’s time that is structured.

	What is the student/teacher ratio? Why is it higher than in conventional schools?
	Our classes are large by design. Montessori classes usually have between 25 and 28 children in a classroom with two adults (a teacher and an assistant). This may seem high, but upon observation, you will see for yourself how this works. The teacher is not the focus or the center of the classroom; it is, instead, the Montessori materials and the “prepared environment” that are the focus. The teacher serves merely as a guide to the children to help them get in touch with the materials and learn the social graces of belonging to a community beyond the family. The learning comes from the child working independently with the materials, not solely with her interaction with the teacher. Another reason Montessori encourages large classes is so that there is a good social mix among the multi-aged children.