Waterfront Montessori — An Authentic Montessori Education
How do you know you are choosing an authentic Montessori school?
The name “Montessori” is not copyrighted or trademarked, which means that anyone can open a school and call it “Montessori” without implementing an authentic program. So how can you know if the school you choose is an authentic Montessori school?
Characteristics of an authentic Montessori program include:
Trained and Certified Montessori teachers (known as guides) who are thoroughly versed in the Montessori method and put students at the center of their education.
A prepared environment designed specifically for the developmental stage of the individual child.
No homework, no grades are essential steps in fostering the child’s desire to soak up knowledge without interrupting their natural curiosity.
Natural learning inspires internally motivated children who are far more likely to become responsible, self-disciplined, confident, initiative-takers with strong academic skills and a lifelong love for learning.
Freedom to choose work and develop their individualized learning plan.
Customized learning at the individual and group level, based on the developmental stage of the child with a carefully planned curriculum.
Freedom of movement within their safe and carefully prepared environment.
Uninterrupted work periods of 2-3 hours to allow students to focus on their learning.
Mixed-age groups in which younger students learn from older students, and older students learn leadership and responsibility as they teach and mentor the younger students.
When looking at a Montessori school, ask yourself: Does this school encourage natural learning or do they use traditional teaching tools such as homework, classroom-wide assignments and textbooks, instead of custom-created work plans and didactic materials? Are the teachers AMS or AMI certified Montessori educators? Are the children memorizing information or learning how to learn? Is the teacher a sage on the stage or a guide on the side?
At Waterfront Montessori, we follow the guidance of Maria Montessori to create an extraordinary learning environment where children make discoveries for themselves. If you want your child to receive the amazing life-long benefits of an authentic Montessori education then contact our admissions office today!