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What is the CASA program? |
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Children between the ages of 2.5 to 6+ years work in a specially prepared environment, and are provided with the means to reach their personal best with regard to intellectual, physical and social development. |
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When is it best to consider Montessori for my child? |
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Dr. Montessori encouraged parents to consider education as an aid to life from birth. Montessori’s four specific educative environments are: Toddlers up to 2.5 years, Casa classrooms (2.5 to 6+ years), Elementary (ages 6+ to 12), and Adolescent environments (teens up to 18 years). Since the environments support one another it is highly recommended that children begin with Montessori no later than 4 years of age, and stay with each program for at least 3 years. |
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I'm concerned that the Montessori environment is too unstructured for my child. He's very active and doesn't like to concentrate very long on one activity. How will he be able to learn in a Montessori setting? |
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Montessori environments offer its students freedom within very clear limits appropriate for that particular age group, encouraging both activity and concentration. Respecting the specific developmental needs of individual students, Montessori environments are remarkably sensitive to different learning styles yet promote focus, purposeful activity and advancement in each and every child. |
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I'm interested in Montessori as a preschool but am concerned that the Montessori environment is not strict enough for the elementary years. What are the benefits of continuing Montessori through the elementary years? |
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Since Montessori environments are very well adapted to children at each step of their development, the outcome for the Montessori graduate is that they are academically sound, socially well adjusted and have a strong sense of self. |
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Montessori allows the children to decide on the activity that they would like to focus on and when. How will Montessori ensure that they choose a variety of activities and not just focus on the one they like best? How will they be able to adapt to a traditional school environment later on? |
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In the elementary program, a teacher along with the child creates individual education plans specific for the child that details a plan of academic success. Both teacher and child are aware of the requirements for each grade level and work towards not only meeting them but surpassing them. In this way Montessori children ‘own’ their education and have an awareness of both their strengths and weaknesses. Having created strategies for mastering tasks and overcoming challenges, children become champions of their own success. Since Montessori children have developed such important skills they typically transition triumphantly to any other school setting. |
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What are some ways for me to extend Montessori learning to my home environment? |
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The best way is to learn to objectively observe your own child, and become familiar with theirdevelopmental needs. Parents should create home environments that are interactive, purposeful and respectful. |
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A Montessori classroom typically has more than 20 kids. If each child does an independent activity, how does the teacher ensure the children are learning? |
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The Montessori teacher is an expert with respect to observing and knowing the learning style and character of each student. They are also extremely well educated with regard to the development of the human being from birth to adulthood; in this way they are able to respond to developmental needs. Also, the Montessori teacher is a specialist in creating environments that promote personal and academic success. |
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Montessori doesn't usually have report cards. How will my child's learning development be monitored? |
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They are also able to monitor and recognize the smallest of changes within a student’s success. The Montessori teacher is very aware of her responsibility not only to each student, but to each student’s parents. The Montessori teacher knows that it is imperative that student’s are monitored daily and provided with the lessons necessary for their success. Montessori teachers recognize the integral relationship between home and school, and encourage open communication between parents and educators. |
