Montessori 101

Each classroom in a Montessori school has at least 2 teachers who act as facilitators for the class.  At least one teacher in each classroom is Montessori certified.  Teachers develop and change materials offered in the classroom based on their observations of the interests and developmental needs of each child in their care. He or she has been trained on  how to use Montessori materials and give lessons on them to students. Montessori teachers undergo an in-depth training program for teaching a specific age range of children.  All training programs are run by accredited Montessori organizations such as The American Montessori Society (AMS), the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) or other programs accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE).

The Village School maintains a 6:1 student to teacher ratio in our toddler program (18-36 months) and 10:1 student to teacher ratio in all other programs. 

One of the first things you may notice when you walk into a Montessori school is that there are children of different ages working side by side in the same classroom.  This arrangement emulates a family atmosphere where younger children learn from their older classmates who act as role models.  This helps older children solidify their knowledge and creates a culture of kindness, respect and collaboration, not competition. 

At The Village School, children are grouped as follows:

Toddler: 18 -36 months
Primary/Kindergarten: 3-6 years
Lower Elementary: 6-9 years (1st-3rd grades)
Upper Elementary: 9-12 years (4th-6th grades)
Middle School: 12-14 years (7th-8th grades)

One of the easiest ways to recognize a Montessori classroom is by the presence of the iconic materials the children are using.  Montessori learning is a hands-on experience with these thoughtfully designed materials that teach specific skills or concepts through a logical sequence.  Materials are standard size, shape, weight, and color so that children can easily recognize a them and repeat lessons independently. 

Montessori materials, often referred to as "works" are typically used at a table or on a child sized rug that defines and organizes the workspace for the student. Lessons are given for works a child has not yet done and are designed to provide appropriate challenges in a manner that engages students on all sensory levels and encourages creative and critical thinking.  Montessori works often engage multiple senses to help students internalize concepts. This structure provides a logical progression of skill and knowledge acquisition from concrete to abstract. 

Montessori students have extended blocks of time during their days at school known as "work periods."  During this time, students select their own work and move at their own pace, without interruption for as long as they are interested in that materials and then cleaning up and returning the materials to its proper place before selecting something else.  Teachers observe their classroom and work with students individually or in small groups as necessary.  These blocks of time allow children to develop concentration and self-discipline because they are working on something they have chosen independently. At The Village School most work periods last around 45 minutes.