Teacher with Student

Shelton admits learning-different students of any race, color, sex, religion, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national and ethnic origin in the administration of our educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Questions Parents ASk

Joyce S. Pickering, Hum.D.
Published in Fall Issue 2002 of Montessori Life

Between the ages of three and six children are in their sensitive period for learning. At this age youngsters can absorb many difficult concepts if they meet them in concrete form.

In a Montessori classroom for instance, a unit is not simply a number on a paper, it is something he can hold in his hand. These concrete materials have the function of leading a child towards abstract concepts in future learning situations.

Is the Montessori method too structured?
Young children must live and work in a structure to feel secure. Since they have an "inner chaos" trying to figure out all the concepts of the world, they cannot function in an environment of chaos.
The Montessori environment is not a lock step procedure geared to producing robots. It is a pleasant place where a child feels comfortable, is ordered, calm and he knows what to expect.

Can children who have been in Montessori classrooms adjust to a regular educational program?
Any good Montessori class is helping a child learn self-control and self-direction. A child with these skills can adjust to any educational structure.

Why teach cursive writing?
Cursive writing is the ultimate goal.
The motor-skill ability for cursive and printing is the same.
Cursive writing has one continuous motion instead of the stopping motions of printing.
The spacing of cursive writing is actually easier for the young child. Words are connected, spaces are in between each word.
Most of all we have time to teach writing in pre-school through grade 2, so that the practice necessary to become automatic on writing skills is done before the writing demands become greater at the 3rd and 4th grade level.

Is the Montessori method too free?
Montessori stated "The main problem is the problem of freedom; its significance and repercussions have to be clearly understood. The adult's idea that freedom consists in minimizing duties and obligations must be rejected... The freedom that is given to the child is not liberation from parents and teachers; it is not freedom from the laws of Nature or of the state or of society, but the utmost freedom for self-development and self-realization compatible with service to society."

Why multi-age grouping?
The Early Childhood Center Montessori environment is created for children from 3 to 6 years of age. Because no two children grow and mature in exactly the same way the materials available to the children are varied and numerous. The proper activity for the right moment is there to be introduced to the child when he is ready or chosen by him as his interests dictate. Thus, no child is held back if his skills indicate a need to move on, nor is a child pressured to keep pace with skills he is not yet ready to master. The sensitive periods of each child can be capitalized upon in a multi-age classroom.
Also, the advantage of a child entering a class at 3 and remaining until 6 are several. The child has time to adapt to his environment and grow without unnecessary readjustments every 12 months. The more experienced students assist the younger in their tasks creating a non-competitive and very caring atmosphere. The transition from home to school is much more easily and enjoyably made in this environment.

Do children in a Montessori environment learn to work in a group?
Yes, the children experience large group work when they do the line each day, at recess, and at specials. They work in small groups often. They work individually with many activities so they may progress at their own rate.

How do you discipline in a Montessori classroom?
It was observed by Dr. Montessori that children at work were naturally self-disciplined by their own concentration on a task. Children enjoy working if the work is chosen by them and appropriate. Our staff will always encourage children having difficulty finding appropriate work. The Montessori philosophy is based on respect. Each individual is free to choose within limits that respect the rights of all others. There are ground rules within which all can work calmly and these are to be respected. Parents interested in specific suggestions on this topic may attend Parenting Courses given throughout the year.

What can I do?
Many parents ask how they can help their child at home. A child's play can be very enriching. Here are some suggestions for enjoyable experiences you can share with your child.

For encouraging language development:

  • Read to your child daily.
  • Always talk with your child. Enrich his vocabulary as you converse and use proper sentence formation as an example.
  • Books with accompanying records or cassettes which tell the story are excellent for children.
  • Dollhouses and puppet theaters are outlets for expressive language practice and imagination.
  • Records with stories and children's songs.
  • Well-made educational games and puzzles available in most toy and department stores are helpful to reinforce concepts presented at school.
  • Give your child crayons, pencils and paper. Encourage him to color and draw.

For encouraging mathematics skills:

  • Read to your child things with numbers, cookbooks, phone numbers, stories with numbers.
  • Talk about comparisons. Is Tom taller than Mary? Is the orange block bigger than the red one? Talk about shapes, sizes, quantities.
  • Play games with concrete objects. How many? If I take away one, now how many? Play this with cookies at snack time.