Montessori FAQ's

Montessori FAQ's

Our Programs

For Children 33 months to 4 years

For Children 4 years to 5 years

For Children 5 years to 6 years

Montessori FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions about American Montessori?

Why should you choose a American Montessori education for your child?
Between the ages of two to six is when most of your child's intelligence and social characteristics are formed. This is also when your child is most receptive, curious, and excited about exploring the world around him or her. American Montessori classrooms nurtures that excitement and curiosity by offering a variety of materials to stimulate and intrigue your child. American Montessori teachers are trained to recognize when a child is ready to learn a new skill, and to foster his or her natural instincts and abilities. Your child is valued as an independent thinker, and encouraged to make choices on his own. American Montessori education provides students of all ages with information in a way they can understand it and enjoy it -- learning is fun, empowering, and custom-fit to suit your child's individual learning style.

Why are the classrooms so quiet, and the children so serious?
At American Montessori the school day is divided into work periods and play periods. Work periods usually last about two and half hours in the morning for all children, with another three hours in the afternoon for those older students who stay a full day. During these times, you are likely to see children intent upon learning their alphabet using letters cut out of sandpaper, or exploring other countries and cultures using the Montessori Puzzle maps. One may be studying basic math concepts using beads strung together in groups of five, ten, etc., while another student is painting or making a collage. This is a busy time for the children, and that serious look you see is a focused look. These children are choosing to do whatever it is they are doing. They have many options, and are empowered to do what interests them most, presumably, what is most fun for them.

What makes American Montessori special?
We are committed not only to helping your child learn the information and the skills he or she needs in order to cope with the challenges of today's world; we are committed to nurturing your child's love of learning, and to make education a fun, and exciting activity for your child. We believe that education is more than strong academics, our schools are a place to learn not only facts, but also to learn respect for the rights of others, and to learn to make choices that reflect a healthy self-confidence as well as a social conscience.

Why choose American Montessori?
American Montessori has been serving South of the River communities, such as Burnsville, Savage, Lakeville, Prior Lake, Apple Valley, Rosemount and Eagan for over 11 years. Our staff is well diversified and has over 100 years of combined Montessori/childcare experience. They use this experience to get to know your child and help your child grow and learn.

What do you have to offer that my child can't get at other preschools, daycares or Montessori's?
American Montessori's approach to education is unique. You will see that the minute you walk into one of our classrooms. The materials used to teach reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, science, music, social studies are all unique to the Montessori classroom. Maria Montessori, a physician who developed the materials and educational philosophy upon which our schools are built, recognized the important impact that physiological and neurological development have on a child's learning. The classroom materials she developed for our youngest students, for example, take abstract ideas and put them in a concrete form that makes sense to these developing minds. Students learn to learn from their peers, and respect their own and each other's ability to be a teacher as well as a student. Finally, our teachers are primarily observers of their students, stepping in when they see a child is "stuck" or ready to learn a new skill. This allows the children to learn independently, with the guidance and support of our teachers whose primary focus is observing how your child learns, and tapping into those styles and approaches that work best for your child.