Montessori is not a day care, nor is it pre-school in the traditional sense. Instead, it’s a carefully orchestrated philosophy that depends on a specific learning environment, parental involvement, and highly trained teachers and staff to facilitate optimal learning conditions. Cross of Life Montessori is a school that meets or exceeds state pre-kindergarten and kindergarten standards.
Q: Who oversees or accredits Montessori schools?
A: Unfortunately, the term “Montessori” is in the public domain, and thus may be applied to any child care program, regardless of its adherence to Dr. Montessori’s tenets. Cross of Life Christian Montessori is recognized by Association Montessori Internationale which provides the highest level of credibility, ensuring that children enrolled in the COLCM are receiving the education and support from accredited teachers that reflect the research and results proven so successful throughout the last century. Additionally, COLCM is accredited by the Georgia Accrediting Commission which ensures that our Pre-K and Kindergarten curriculum meets or exceeds state standards.
Q: When should I start my child in Montessori? A: Dr. Montessori was herself amazed at the abilities of young children two and three years old. In her environments she discovered that they were able to absorb concrete materials using all their senses simultaneously, a unique ability soon lost. She called these times of special absorption "Sensitive Periods", and developed specific materials for that time. As your child grows these periods change, yet the continuum is set in motion for the rest of your child's life. Therefore, the early years are the most important, yet most neglected in many societies.
Starting a child a toddler between 16-18 months in a good Montessori environment can have results that will remain with them all their life. Click here to see how a Montessori education helped these two young entrepreneurs become immensely successful.
Q:Why is the Montessori Primary class (ages 3-6) only offered as a 5 day program? A: A child who attends school for five days each week will have the greatest opportunity for consistent spontaneous learning. Consecutive attendance is extremely important during the Primary program. It enables the child to feel safe and relaxed in the classroom and aids the child in forming strong bonds with their teachers and friends. A child taken in and out of school frequently does not have the same opportunity and consistency to pursue his unfolding interests.
Early childhood specialists agree that young children thrive in a secure, consistent environment with a steady routine. Young children adjust very well to this schedule and bond most easily with their teachers and peers when they have five consecutive days in their school community, which quickly becomes a beloved and special place for them. The steady rhythm of coming to school creates a continuous curriculum, gives the group a sense of social cohesion and allows for time with the materials. It also gives the children a strong feeling of belonging to a community that they help create, and of which they are valued and respected members.
Q: The Montessori method was created a century ago; is it applicable today? A: While appropriate changes have been made to the original Montessori curriculum (including modifications to the Practical Life exercises to keep them culturally relevant), the basic tenants have changed little since Dr. Montessori's lifetime because the developmental stages of humans have not changed.
Q: What happens when my child leaves Montessori? A:Changing from one environment to another takes self-confidence and patience. Different children respond differently to change. Most children adjust well to the transfer from Montessori to other private or public schools when their self esteems are high. Statistically, those who are in Montessori classrooms longest tend to make the adjustment more smoothly. They usually enter their new environments with a positive, flexible confidence following their experience with, and nurturing of, a real love of learning.
Q: How much does a Montessori education cost? A:Cross Of Life Christian Montessori is among the most cost competitive private schools in the North Fulton area. We are very proud of our ability to provide a quality education at an affordable price. Limited scholarships are available for children who are 4 years old by September 1. Click here for tuition and fees.