Have questions about Montessori School?

What is Montessori?

Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was a woman ahead of her time and an influential individual on early childhood education and development. Her philosophy started in the slums of Rome in 1907  and is now used world-wide by many early childhood education programs. The Montessori method is a child-focused approach to development of the young child. In Montessori classrooms, you will see children working independently or in small groups on self-lead materials that provide tangible, hands-on learning. This method of education provides rigorous, self-motivated growth for children and adolescents in all areas of their development - cognitive, emotional, social, and physical. 

“The goal of early childhood education should be to activate the child’s own natural desire to learn.” ~ Maria Montessori

What Makes Montessori Different?

The Montessori method is a foundation of education and social emotional skills that benefit the young child for their future growth. At A Little Journey Montessori School, we provide a consistent routine for the children in a prepared environment in which they know what to expect each day. The learning materials are designed to be age appropriate and a sequential order of learning that is designed to help the child grow and develop over at least 2 years of sequential learning.

What Does it Mean to be a State Licensed Facility?

At A Little Journey Montessori School, we are state licensed and are held to the standards and regulations put forth by the state for early childhood programs. We follow state requirements for student to teacher ratios and group sizes. We have annual inspections from the health department, fire marshall, and state licensor. All children in our care are required to meet the minimum requirements for immunizations, as are the teachers. 

Prior to starting work at our program, all teachers must go through a background check with the state and DOJ before being eligible to work. After passing a background check, teachers are required to take required training courses put forth by the state within their first 90 days of hire and become CPR certified within the first 30 days of hire. Teachers are required to meet annual continuing education requirements each year to stay informed on the care and education of young children. 

At A Little Journey Montessori School we strive to have qualified teachers with accredited degrees in early childhood or related fields. We encourage teachers to further their education with certified Montessori training courses and aim to have lead teachers with Montessori training in each classroom.

What is Self-Directed Learning, and Why is it Important for a Child to be Self-Directed?

Following the Montessori method, self-directed learning allows children to choose their own work within a structured environment, providing freedom within limits. Self-directed learning allows the child to choose work that interests them, and provides adequate time for the work to be completed without interruption. Over time, a self-directed learning approach builds confidence, problem solving skills, independence, and enhances creativity by allowing the child to be fully absorbed in an idea.

Why Multi-Age Classrooms?

Montessori multi-age classrooms allow children to grow at their own pace. The varying characteristics of children of different ages provides the unique opportunity for students to learn from one another, while following an independent path of individualized learning. Older children have the opportunity to take on leadership roles, while younger children benefit from interaction and observation of their older classmates. This multi-age classroom approach allows children to develop both personally and socially, growing roots deeply within the community. At A Little Journey, our Nido room welcomes children ages 6 weeks to approximately 18 months, our Pre-Primary classroom includes children ages 18 months to 3 years, and our Primary classroom includes children ages 3 - 6 years.

Will my Child be Doing Independent Learning Activities Exclusively? Will my Student Receive Direct Instruction from a Teacher?

At A Little Journey Montessori School, learning takes on various forms! Each day, all students are invited to participate in circle time with the class, where together we discuss topics like the date and the weather, and learn about the current unit of focus in the school, guided by a Lead Teacher. These topics rotate every two weeks, and include a wide range of engaging subjects and hands-on activities as a group. Some of our units include grace and courtesy, manners, space, and dinosaurs! Additional morning work periods provide ample time for students to participate deeply in independent learning activities, while also creating time for more directed learning. During work periods, students may be invited to participate in floor work with the classroom’s Lead Teacher. Together, new topics are explored based on the student’s current interests and a sequential order of learning. They will explore areas such as geography, learning math skills, sounding out letters and words, and using hands-on materials to refine their five senses.

What Types of Classroom Materials Will my Child Interact With? 

The lessons on our low, open shelves are made from natural materials like polished wood, glass, metal, and fabric. Each is a hands-on tool designed to teach a specific academic or life skill. If a piece doesn't fit or water spills, the material itself shows the child something is off; they can correct it without a lot of teacher intervention as they build independence and confidence. 

Here are a few examples of the materials your child will be working with every day:

1. Practical Life: Child-sized pitchers for pouring, soap and brushes for washing, arts & craft materials for painting and collage. Children love doing what they see adults do. These materials build independence, fine motor skills, and concentration. They also teach children to work from left to right, paving the way for early reading and writing. 

2. Sensorial: Wooden cubes, weighted cylinders, fabric swatches of different textures. Young children learn through their senses. These materials help them classify and order the physical world, and lay a subconscious foundation for geometry and math later on.

3. Language: Sandpaper letters, sound boxes, movable alphabet. Tactile materials break language down into physical, touchable pieces to learn letter sounds and spelling.

4. Mathematics: Spindle boxes, golden beads, numerical cards and counters. As they grow, they move into the math materials, which turn abstract concepts into physical objects they can count, weigh, and stack in order to understand what a number represents.

How does Montessori Pre-School Prepare my Child for Kindergarten and Beyond?

The Montessori approach cultivates a love for learning that will follow your child throughout their academic career and beyond! The independence and self-confidence developed through self-directed learning during early childhood will set them up for success in diverse settings as they continue to grow. At A Little Journey Montessori, children learn and practice helpful skills like using the restroom independently, washing hands, opening lunchbox items, managing jackets, sharing, taking turns, following teacher directions, cutting with scissors, and recognizing colors, numbers, and shapes.

It is Mentioned That State Requirements for Student to Teacher Ratios are Met. What are those Ratios Specifically?

In our Nido (Infant) room, we maintain a child-to-staff ratio of 4:1 with a maximum group size of 8. For our Pre-Primary (Toddler) class, we maintain a 6:1 ratio with a maximum group size of 14. In our Primary (Pre-School) classroom, we maintain a child-to-staff ratio of 10:1, with a maximum group size of 20. When children of different ages are mixed, the ratio requirements for the youngest child will be met. 

What Should I Expect my Child to be Doing Throughout the Day at A Little Journey Montessori School?

At A Little Journey Montessori School your child will learn and grow in a welcoming and structured environment. Routine provides important consistencyーnecessary for the success and development of young minds. Daily life at A Little Journey varies based on classroom, but our Primary and Pre-Primary classrooms roughly observe the following schedule: Students arrive at school, put their belongings away, and put on their school slippers independently to the best of their ability. Students then engage in a work period of self-directed independent learning activities. A morning snack is served, and all members of the classroom community are invited to join in circle time. This is followed by a period of movement. At A Little Journey we go outside as much as possible year-round. When extreme weather conditions prohibit outdoor time, indoor fine motor skills and movement-based activities are provided. It is then time for lunch, followed by a nap/rest period. There is then a second period of outdoor enrichment and an afternoon snack before parent pick-up time.

Is A Little Journey Montessori School Religiously Affiliated?

A Little Journey Montessori School is not religiously affiliated, and welcomes students of all backgrounds.

When does A Little Journey Montessori School Operate?

A Little Journey Montessori School is a year round program operating all twelve months of the year. On school days, we are open from 8 AM until 4 PM. See the School Calendar for more details on breaks and school closures.