Montessori Education: Frequently Asked Questions

Are you curious about the Montessori Method? Wondering if it's the right choice for your family? Wonder no more! This article will answer all of your questions and then some. Keep reading to learn everything you need about this unique form of education.

Kids getting a Montessori education

Montessori Teacher Helps Students Engage With Montessori Materials

What is a Montessori School?

Dr. Maria Montessori is credited with developing the Montessori Method, a philosophy first implemented in the early 1900s. It's a specific form of toddler and preschool education that places children at the center of the learning process.

The classrooms mix children of diverse ages, where teachers foster independent study through child-led activities (referred to as "work").

Kids learning alphabet in Montessori method

Montessori Students Learn the Alphabet

What is the Montessori Method?

A method of education that fosters children's natural interests and activities. A Montessori classroom emphasizes experiential learning and real-world skills development in a nurturing environment.

It strongly emphasizes individualism, based on the idea that children are naturally curious and can learn and develop independently with assistance.

Montessori education stacking toys

Montessori Student Learns About Sizes

Why is a Montessori program important for children?

As a parent, only you can determine the type of school that best suits your children. The good news is that the success of Montessori programs is based on comprehensive scientific research and data.

Orange Seeds Montessori is a great choice for a high-quality program if you're searching for a preschool or toddler daycare in Oakville or Hamilton. To learn more, book a tour or visit an open house.

Kids working with Montessori education tools

Montessori Students Work Independently

What is unique about the Montessori Method?

A Montessori environment looks very different from a regular school classroom. It's a community. It's a child-centred program that helps children learn without needing standardized tests and homework. Everything in the classroom is designed to be multi-sensory and hands-on, giving playfulness to the lessons.

Montessori teacher reaching to students

Montessori Education Fosters Creativity and Community

10 Strengths of the Montessori Method

If you are considering enrolling your child in a Montessori school, here are ten strengths of these programs.

  1. Concentrates on essential milestones along the way

  2. Fosters the development of cooperative play and community

  3. Places children at the center of the learning environment

  4. Children pick up on their discipline easily and quickly

  5. An orderly, nurturing environment in the classroom that teaches order

  6. Educators are responsible for the coordination of learning activities

  7. The approach ignites creative thinking

  8. Might be more efficient in the acquisition of particular abilities

  9. The system is highly individualized for each student

  10. The curriculum emphasizes learning through hands-on experience

Montessori student studying plants

Montessori Education Emphasizes Experiential Learning and Real-World Skills

Why choose Montessori programs for your child?

As a parent, it’s hard to determine which program your child will most succeed in homeschool, childcare, daycare, or school. The Montessori teaching method differs from what parents may encounter in conventional schools, preschools, or daycares.

This method will foster innate curiosity and interest in learning and discovery. It will encourage your child’s capacity for positive social interaction in a supportive, interactive, and respectful environment.

Children acquire the skills necessary to learn, laying the groundwork for future academic and social success.

Montessori students working with colour blocks

Montessori Materials Foster Cooperative Play

Why is training necessary for a Montessori teacher?

Good teacher training programs will teach how to recognize each student's learning style and personality. It will help teachers notice each student's interests so that they may educate them in a way that best suits their needs and helps them reach their full potential.

Montessori teacher working with students

Montessori Teachers Create Welcoming and Engaging Classrooms

What do Montessori teachers do in their classrooms?

Teachers specially trained in the Montessori Method offer a unique experience to an infant, toddler and preschooler. Children are always under the close supervision of their Montessori teacher as they are guided, supervised, and evaluated.

Lesson plans, independent practice, and individualized pedagogical approaches are all products of this process. Montessori teachers work hard to ensure their classrooms are welcoming places for all students and keep kids interested and engaged.

Montessori teacher working with student

Is it a good time to start a Montessori school?

The short answer is definitely yes. This approach works for any age, spanning the years from infancy to toddler to preschool (or Casa) to upper elementary.

At Orange Seeds Montessori, we accept students from age one to age six. Our preschool program is called Casa. With the right resources, You can also start this kind of enriched education at home with your infant or toddler from any age. Book a tour or visit an open house in Oakville or Hamilton to learn more about our Montessori program.

Students working with Montessori materials

Montessori Students Develop a Lifelong Love of Learning

Which is better, Private Montessori School or Elementary School Programs?

The Montessori philosophy goes beyond a set curriculum, and it’s purposefully designed to foster a whole child's growth. Younger students begin their training by performing activities such as pouring, polishing, and doing housework.

The objective here is not to train kids to become housekeepers but to develop order, coordination, focus, and autonomy. Classes include music and French. Students gain the self-assurance to walk around the classroom, make decisions, and manage their time. They also prepare themselves for more academic responsibilities such as reading, writing, and arithmetic.

In an ideal scenario, continuing a child's Montessori teaching enables them to move through the extensive curriculum as an individual. This fosters a love of learning for life. However, even if your child transitions into a typical elementary school, the self-assurance and independence established in their early life will be valuable.

Montessori students and teacher working with blocks

What does Montessori say about play?

The Italian educator Dr. Maria Montessori once said, "Play is the child's work." Children have the potential to learn an incredible amount about their world if they are allowed to know about it during meaningful activities. Students can simultaneously experience and play in a nurturing, enriched environment prepared for them, such as schools designed using this method.

Montessori alphabet materials

The Montessori Classroom is an Orderly and Nurturing Environment

Is Montessori a nurturing environment for every student?

This program is beneficial for students of all ages. It can be adapted to fit the needs of each child, no matter their age or level of development.

Where can I find the Montessori curriculum for ages 0-3?

You can find the Orange Seeds Montessori curriculum for ages 0-3 here. Our casa curriculum for ages 3-6 are outlined here. 

Montessori Education is Appropriate For All Ages

Why do parents choose private Montessori schools in Oakville?

Even though the educational approach is more than a century old, the number of schools in Canada has been growing exponentially since the 1990s. There are four reasons parents in Oakville want this type of education: they like the principles, they feel a fit with the philosophy, they expect good outcomes, and they like the school.

Upon graduation, students can write, read, and perform math operations. They are confident individuals who will succeed in their future elementary schools.

Not Every Montessori School Follows Montessori Principles

How do I find "Montessori Oakville" on Google?

When you are a parent, it’s challenging to determine which school in Oakville will provide the best opportunities for your child's development. If this is the case, you may search for "Montessori Oakville" on Google.

While searching, you may find that many institutions in Oakville use the term "Montessori Oakville." Because a trademark does not protect the time, any school in Oakville can call itself a Montessori school but not necessarily adhere to the proper principles.

Montessori student plays music xylophone

Orange Seeds Montessori is Working Toward Montessori Accreditation

Montessori Accreditation

The Association Montessori Nationale (AMI), an international organization based in Amsterdam, grants accreditation to private schools in Oakville. Accredited Oakville schools need to follow incredibly high standards for compliance, requiring most instructors to have an active certification.

Orange Seeds Montessori in Oakville and Beyond is working to secure its accreditation in collaboration with AMI. Book a tour today or visit an open house.