What a Real Montessori Education Means to a Child

Most parents don’t know that any school can call itself Montessori. We talked with one of just two AMI Recognized Montessori schools in Chicago to learn why this accreditation matters.

Most parents searching for their child’s first school have at least heard the term “Montessori.” For some, the word Montessori is even synonymous with early childhood education. There are dozens of Montessori schools in Chicago, some of which are very good. But only two are recognized by Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) —  the original global organization started by Dr. Maria Montessori nearly 100 years ago.

The name Montessori can actually be used by anyone, but some programs with Montessori in their name, though well-intentioned, may not necessarily be following the Montessori principles, says Emily Page, Director at Gateway Montessori School, one of the two AMI-recognized Montessori schools in the city.

In order to be recognized by AMI, Gateway Montessori School agrees to annual review, consultations and observation by the Association. The school must have complete, authentic Montessori materials and follow all approved AMI schedules and lessons. All teachers are educated to at minimum a bachelor’s degree level and have completed their multi-year Montessori certification training.

It’s a daunting process, but this oversight ensures the original teachings of Dr. Montessori are adhered to, and that your child will be in a truly authentic Montessori program.

What is Montessori?

“We’ve heard parents say they thought that Montessori means allowing children to simply do what they want. But that misunderstanding comes from the core Montessori principle to ‘follow the child’ so we can meet them at their developmental stage, their interest and their intellectual level,” Page explains.

Maria Montessori observed that children learn best when they are free to move, free to choose their own work and follow their interests. “We give them access to the Montessori materials and the key is having a trained adult who can guide them to the right materials at the right time,” Page says.

At Gateway Montessori, teachers — called a Guide or sometimes called a Director/Directress — observe students and offer materials at the right time to stimulate interest and engage in deeper learning.

Photo credit: Gateway Montessori School

Authentic Montessori materials allow children to “use their hands as the instrument of the intellect,” Page says. “Children understand concepts by touching and feeling and getting the sense of volume through the object they are holding, for instance. That leads to increased understanding of an abstract concept, and eventually, to putting vocabulary to that concept.”

The materials grow with the children so that information gained as a 3-year-old can be applied to materials when a child is 5 and has gained deeper conceptual knowledge and experience. This is why it’s important and required for AMI-recognized schools to have a complete list of materials.

Unlike in a typical classroom, Montessori students don’t learn such foundational concepts as multiplication through rote memorization and endless worksheets. They learn to analyze through discovery and engagement with mindfully designed materials and guides who are skilled in encouraging them to grow intellectually.

A good example is Gateway Montessori’s bead cabinet found in both primary and elementary levels, which is “literally rows of different colored, different length chains of beads hanging in an open frame and arranged in order,” says Page.

Photo credit: Gateway Montessori School

“It’s very attractive to young children and they use it to practice linear counting from one up to 1000. They begin to understand and practice skip counting, for example, counting in groups, like four sets of five,” she explains. “Then, when they approach multiplication, they don’t know how they know what four fives is, but it’s so much easier for them because they had concrete materials that prepared them to understand this concept. Dr. Montessori called this ‘materialized abstraction.’”

But the authentic Montessori experience is missing without a carefully prepared adult who understands the direct and indirect use of materials such as the bead cabinet — and can recognize how to spark interest so a child goes back to it again and again, says Page. Without all necessary Montessori components, the child may not have the full benefit of a Montessori education.

The unique education at an authentic Montessori school

Montessori programs have mixed-age classrooms and one benefit is that children of different ages may be at the same learning level in a particular area and there is no stigma attached to being ‘advanced’ or ‘behind’ others.

An important element of the Montessori community is the prepared environment of the classroom, which is designed to suit the children’s needs, not the adults’ needs, and fosters their independence.

“Dr. Montessori was one of the first to say that children in a classroom need to have places to work that are sized to their bodies. Now it’s a given, but it’s not how it was done 100 years ago,” Page says.

Students at Gateway Montessori consider the “Children’s House” their own, and they take pride in caring for it by watering plants, sweeping, cleaning and helping each other — especially when it comes to peacefully easing the younger children toward naptime.

“It’s something parents may not expect 5-year-olds to want to or be able to do at home with their own siblings, but in the Montessori community, it’s a beautiful spirit they share,” says Page.

Gateway Montessori families are encouraged to become part of the experience and really learn about how their children engage in the authentic Montessori community. They’re invited to observe in the classroom and attend parent events after school to socialize as well as learn more about the pedagogy.

Parents mistakenly believe that all children in the classroom doing totally different things would be chaotic, but what they learn through observation is that it can be very peaceful because each child is involved in something of interest to them.

“They’re not frustrated by school because they are exploring according to their own interests and developmental needs,” she says. “When you meet the child where they are, and offer them the gift of exploration, there’s no reason for chaos.” 

Gateway Montessori School’s Community welcomes children 15 months-3 years. The Children’s House is for children ages 3-6, and the Elementary is for ages 6-12.

Learn more about Gateway Montessori School at gatewaymontessorischool.org.


Follow Chicago Parent on Instagram.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisement -

LATEST STORIES

Rainy Day Activities for Chicagoland Kids

Don't let the rain ruin your family fun.

Satisfy Your Cravings with the Best Tacos Near Tinley Park

Indulge in Tinley Park's diverse taco offerings, from authentic Mexican cuisine to innovative flavors.

Overnight Summer Camps for Chicagoland Kids

Have your child start a new adventure with one of these overnight summer camps.

STEAM Summer Camps for Chicagoland Kids

Your young scientists can learn all summer long with these camps.


- Advertisement -