A major decision for parents is choosing an elementary school for their children.
Often, it is part of a larger decision: picking up stakes and moving in search of a private elementary school or traditional elementary school?

Are you struggling with how to help your child to focus?

Your child grows every day in every way. Literally, a parent can see and feel that growth as their child’s mind, body and soul processes each new day’s experience—academically, emotionally, and socially. It is the most rewarding part of their journey.

As a child grows, they discover their passions and focus on learning more about that love.

Although millions of American children attend Montessori school primary programs, an overwhelming majority are uprooted following Kindergarten and placed into traditional elementary schools rather than continuing Montessori methodology through Grade Six. Why? Here are three Montessori elementary school misperceptions and realities.  

Montessori Elementary School Misperceptions 

Here are four core benefits that separate an independent learning, Montessori elementary school focused on how children learn with a traditional elementary school.

Benefit #1: More 1-2-1 Teacher Time For Your Child

The Montessori Method is based on students learning at their own pace and working on projects they have passion for. One key: your child gets more personal teacher time because there are fewer students per teacher. 

The most important component of Montessori teaching and philosophy is respect. Montessori begins by valuing each child’s contribution in a way that brings out his or her best. When you respect your child, he or she will gain self-respect. This will give your child new mental tools towards developing pride and confidence by behaving with honor and dignity.  

At Lifetime Montessori School, our teachers use a ‘children should be seen and heard’ philosophy.

In an elementary Montessori school setting, teachers pretend they don’t know the answer so their students can become active participation learners. Is that an effective learning technique? Not giving kids the answer?! 

In many traditional schools, students do get the answer. All students are taught the same lesson at the same time—whether they understood the last lesson or not. Then, they are taught facts to promote memorization—the ‘what.’

It’s Called ‘Learning’ When Students Research A Topic On Their Own

Second Plane of Development Changes

Recently, Montessori elementary school parents listed reasons why they decided to invest in their children’s private education this Fall. They stated:

• An independent learning environment  
• Low teacher-to-student ratios and,
• Age-range student peer groupings. 

The core benefit: “ensuring my child learns how to think.”

Traditional Elementary or Montessori Elementary Education?

It is easy to note the differences between traditional public elementary school Grades One, Two and Three and private Montessori Lower Elementary school philosophies.

Montessori advantages include: