Selecting a Montessori school for your child:

First, read a book about Montessori education so that you know what all the hype is about.  It is truly an effective, amazing educational method.  See Links for good books.

In selecting a Montessori school, observe for several hours.  Meet with the head of school and staff members.  Ask them about their take on Montessori philosophy and pedagogy.  Ask them about their affiliation with the organizations I listed under Links.  Don’t be afraid to observe several times in a row, at different times of the day to get a feel for the classroom community.

When observing, make sure you take notes and look for the following: (a good school will have an observation sheet for you to fill out)

• Is the classroom neat and orderly?  Are the materials and shelves clean?
• Do the children seem happy?  Are the teachers content and relaxed?
• Is there an organizational method of the materials around the room?  Do you see a practical life area with activities for pouring, washing, organizing?  Do you see a geometry area with cylinders, blocks, pink tower?  Do you see clear math and language arts areas for academic work?  Is there a cultural area with maps and globes?  Is there a science area with puzzles, animal and plant lessons?
• Do the children work with a purpose?
• Can the children explain what they are doing to you?  (sometimes the teacher will let you ask an older child…)

Again, go with your gut feeling when visiting a school.  When selecting Lake Murray Montessori and then Sea Pines Montessori for my sons, the staff was welcoming, the rooms clean and organized, the children happy, and I left with the feeling that my children would be taken care of very well there.  I loved it so much that I became a Montessori teacher!