I know that you have come to the right place by potentially choosing DMS Montessori Preschool and Daycare for your early childhood education.  But do you?  Choosing the "right" Montessori school for your infant, toddler or preschooler can be a real challenge.  "Montessori" is not a trademarked name, and so anyone can use the name in their school title.  Montessori in the name does not mean that it is a Montessori school in the traditional sense.  If you want an authentic experience, as Maria Montessori created and intended it to be, it is important to know the following before choosing the "one."

There are certain trademarks and qualifications to look for in a classroom. 

There is of course no one size fits all, but in general, here are the attributes to look for when choosing a Montessori program no matter what the age of the child:

Parents’ Instincts - This is the most important when it comes to childcare in general.  Do you get a good feel for the place and from the teacher(s)?  Do you sense a positive energy, happy children, and peaceful adults?  Is the school clean and orderly? Montessori or not, you need to feel comfortable and safe leaving your child here. 

Teaching Style - How does the teacher talk to the children?  Montessori teachers are typically wonderful at communicating with the age group they are working with.  Do they get down to the child’s level and speak to them with respect? Do they pause and listen to what the child has to say? Conversely, I would avoid schools and teachers that use rewards or punishments, or label children good or bad. This is a red flag no matter what childcare centre you explore.

Montessori Trained Teachers - If you want a true Montessori experience, this is very important.  Either MACTE or AMI are the main two to look for.  There should always be a RECE in each classroom with the Montessori teacher to ensure they are following the rules as they pertain to the Ministry of Education.  The Montessori teacher will typically be the lead in the classroom to drive the Montessori programming.

Mixed-Age Classroom - Montessori classrooms have a wider age range in each class than is typical in other schools. An infant room class goes from 0-18 months.  A toddler class usually goes from 18 months to 2.5 / 3 years. A primary class / preschool class goes from 2.5 / 3 to 6 years (includes what would typically be kindergarten year/s). One of the wonderful things about mixed-age classrooms is that the younger students learn from the older ones, and the older students learn to teach the younger ones. It is so valuable for young children to have this experience, as well as consistency that spans across years.

Layout - Take a look at the classroom, or a few, and note how the room is organized. Is it clean, orderly, and spacious? Montessori classrooms should be inviting for the child, with shelves of organized trays and baskets and plenty of floor space and tables to work at. The furniture should be made of wood, with plenty of natural materials on the shelves. Montessori classrooms are typically not as bright, loud, and overstimulating as many other kinds of preschools or regular daycare spaces.  This is why it is often the perfect experience for children with special needs. 

Self-directed play - If you are able, observe in the prospective classroom. Watch how the children interact with the materials, each other, and the teachers. Children in a Montessori classroom should be allowed to choose their own work, focus on it, and seek help when needed. Other children might be playing with friends or working alongside one another. Teachers come over to children one-by-one rather than talking over them. There should be a fairly long work cycle for self-directed play, in addition to time outdoors and time together for songs and meals.

Teacher Turnover Rate - Not specific to Montessori, but I always like to look at how long teachers have worked at the school. It’s normal and common for there to be some turnover, and for teachers to leave but it may be a red flag if there is frequent teacher turnover at the school, especially mid-year. Children do best at schools that teachers enjoy teaching at. In order to build close and comfortable relationships, Montessori children tend to stay with the same Montessori teacher for years.

Most Montessori schools do not offer part-time schedules. This is because children thrive on consistency and routine. However, they do exist and some schools offer flexibility based on many factors.  The best way to ensure consistency with the Montessori program while at home if she or he is part time at school is to try to do Montessori at home too.  Talk to the teachers about their willingness to offer suggestions about what you can do at home to ensure stability and consistency with their school.  Toddlers tend to thrive best in a full time program especially since there is already so much separation anxiety involved in their current developmental stage.  It can be really challenging for toddlers who have different rules and routines at home to then have to “re-learn” the routine at school each week for the two days they attend. It can also be difficult for a Montessori program to afford such part-time options. I hope that helps you understand why Montessori schools often insist on 4-5 day programs, as well as the importance of consistency for small children.  For now, we do accept part time children for 3 days a week, but that may change in the future for the reasons above.  I feel like parents sometimes have help from involved grandparents or they work from home and so a part time schedule fits their needs.  As usual, I try to work WITH the parents and their needs rather than not being flexible for my families.

Dina