FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here is a list of questions we are most often asked.

1. DOES MY CHILD HAVE TO BE TOILET TRAINED?
Yes your child must be completely toilet trained. Pull-ups are not permitted. Teachers will regularly remind children to remember to go to the bathroom. However, chronic potty accidents detract from our ability to provide lessons to all of the children in the classroom.

2. HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD AT HOME?
Support your child's growing independence, listen to your child, involve your child in your daily activities ( cooking, cleaning, setting the table, etc. ) Provide order and routine to your child's day. When parental support is given, the child benefits even more because they have a consistent environment in which to grow and develop. Look forward to attending Parent Education Events, schedule Classroom Observations, attend Parent-Teacher Conferences, read Montessori books so that you can be better informed about your child's day at Montessori.

The following are a few books that we highly recommend:
How to raise an amazing child the Montessori way - Tim Seldin
The Discovery of the Child - Maria Montessori
The Absorbent Mind - Maria Montessori
Montessori in the Classroom - Paul Polk Lillard

3. HOW DO CHILDREN LEARN TO SHARE?
Learning to share comes naturally in a Montessori classroom because of preparation of the environment and implementation of grace and courtesy lessons. As a part of learning to share, children also are taught to respect each other's work and space. When a child chooses an activity to do, other children must respect that choice and wait until the activity is placed back on the shelf before they may work on it themselves.

4. HOW DO CHILDREN LEARN TO SOCIALIZE?
As the children develop a sense of pride in their work, they begin to manifest a feeling of confidence, well-being and joy. A classroom of Montessori children is wonderful to watch. There is a rare spirit of respect, love, and cooperation among the children. Socialization is very much a part of a Montessori classroom. In the classroom you will notice children interacting continuously: younger children inspired to do more advanced work by observing and learning from older students and the older children are learning through teaching and helping younger ones.

5. WHAT IS THE CHILD'S WORK
Children naturally pride themselves in doing purposeful and meaningful activity. For this reason, exercises are referred to as "work". They choose most activities eagerly and spontaneously, and become totally involved. The work process involves: attaining skills, refining abilities, developing sensitivities, strengthening concentration, solving problems, building self-esteem, and achieving new insights.

6. WHAT MAKES MONTESSORI EDUCATION UNIQUE?
The "whole child" approach. The primary goal of our program is help each child reach full potential in all areas of life. The curriculum is stimulating, challenging, and offers amazing substance and depth. The beauty in the environment and the Montessori materials. The Montessori child learns to teach himself. As Montessori teachers we help each child learn how to learn, and giving them the love for learning. Children working at their own pace in the Montessori classroom, this allows for natural inclusion of all different learning styles and abilities and his/her pace of learning is based on the child's potential.

7. WHAT IS YOUR (MONTESSORI) APPROACH TO DISCIPLINE?
Our goal is to have children internalize good behaviour, not just respond to an adult. To do this we focus on respect, responsibility and resourcefulness. But some children do not come to us with all of these qualities in place. When a child behaves in a manner that is unacceptable he is held accountable with a logical consequence, one that is related to the misbehaviour. For example, if a child chooses a particular material and is using it incorrectly, perhaps even damaging it, he will at first be redirected to use it appropriately. If this does not remedy the problem the child will be asked to put the material away and may not use it again until another lesson can be given to the child. We give positive encouragement to engage in alternative activities and to talk with the child about appropriate behaviour. We make sure that the children are aware of their actions and respect and consideration for others. We are careful to let the child know that it is the child's behaviour that is unacceptable, not the child. There will be occasions where a child will be having trouble controlling his/her behaviour and will interfere with another child's work or disrupt a group's activity. At this time the teacher will attempt to redirect his/her attention in a firm, kind, and flexible manner by offering choices of other activities and / or behaviour.
It is important to respect children's feelings and to be sensitive to the child's emotional state. Some children may misbehave do to an illness, being over tired, or some event happening at home.

8. HOW DOES THE FULL DAY AND HALF DAY PROGRAM WORK?

When planning for the opening of Harwood Montessori School in the Fall of 2016, a lot of forethought went into creating a school that would meet the needs of young children and their full-time working parents.
There are two main reasons for why we are offering the All-Day program. First, being a part of a consistent environment with authentic Montessori materials helps to create consistency and order for the child. Second, being in a Montessori classroom for the entirety of the day limits transitions, which can be daunting, confusing, and frustrating for young children.

Our All-Day program will begin at 7:30am (upon approval from Lead Director). Children enrolled in the Half-Day program will begin arriving at 8:30am and our morning work cycle will continue to 11:45. All day children will join for lunch that is provided by the parents and enjoy a full dining experience. The children joining us for just an afternoon program will arrive at 12:45pm. The whole class will then begin another work cycle until 3:15pm. The children that have joined only for the afternoon program are dismissed at this time and the all day children will continue their day with activities outside, art, yoga, creative building, Reggio, music, culinary studies, etc. The all day children will be dismissed to their parents no later than 5:00pm.
Our goal is to provide all children with an authentic Montessori experience that is loving, peaceful and respectful.

9. WHAT KIND OF FOOD SHOULD I SEND FOR SNACK?

For morning snack, Chef Hana will cut 40 slices of apple/ 40 slices of carrot/ 60 segments of oranges/40 slices of cucumber and then we have crackers or wraps with a choice of spread. For the afternoon, she will cut 40 slices of bell peppers/ 40 slices of banana/ 40 slices of apple /40 chunks of pineapple and then we may add pretzels or healthy popcorn.

Chef Hana bases snack on what the children bring, and she always rotates and keep items in our fridge downstairs.

Helpful items include:
Oranges, Apples, Snap peas, Kiwi, Strawberry, Cucumber, Bell pepper, Tomatoes, Melon (1/2 or whole), Berries (1-2 pt), Grapes (bag), Mango (2-3)
Always nice to have:
Hummus or guacamole (full tub), WowButter (full jar), wraps (full pack), crackers (box), baguette, jam, salsa, corn tortilla chips, banana bread (from bakery), muffins (from bakery), rice cakes, healthy chips.

Its ok to bring a larger amount one day then the next day bring nothing. We know that snack items can take up space in a fridge at home and we have plenty of space in ours.

Thank you for sending healthy lunches complete with labeled containers, nutrition is key to our daily success at Montessori. With that in mind, please do not send the following added lunch items:
Juice, yogurt pots & tubes, chocolate milk, chocolate dipped granola bars, candy, fruit snacks/leather, sugary cookies, fruit cups. Please do not bring any nut products in case of allergies in the classroom.