Most Montessori schools offer a five day program only. Since Community Montessori offers a three, four, and five day program, I am often asked what I recommend. My reply is the same-I recommend the 5 day program for all children ages 3-6. The school I taught at prior to opening my own school only offered five day program so in many ways I am used to that. However, there are some strong arguments and rationale for having your child attend five days in a Montessori program. Children love exploring, discovering, experiencing their environment. Doing this takes time. We live in a such a fast paced world-we want results and mastery immediately in the time frame we want. Children don't operate like that. Children need time to develop-time spent to unfold and become who they are meant to be. The Montessori environment offers quality, purposeful work for children to engage in. Each day they are presented lessons that are age appropriate and will hopefully stir something inside of them to choose that activity. We see children spend pockets of time in certain areas, repeating works and activities that they are enjoying. Being in the classroom for five days, allows that process to continue more consistently as well as gives them the opportunity to choose many interesting works. Being in a Montessori environment for five days allows the natural pace of a child's learning to happen. Additionally, the more time children spend in the Montessori environment, the more time there is to build strong focus and attention skills as well as longer work cycles. This development is critical to children's success as they continue on with their schooling. Think about when you are engaged in a project you are enjoying and what it feels like to have it disrupted. We are thrilled to offer the three/four day option because we want to offer families the Montessori experience even if they are not interested in having their child attend five days. We do ask that our three day students come three days in a row to allow consistency for that child as well. At Community Montessori we enjoy serving the needs of our community and families, but, my heart will always be with the five day program. My guess is that many of you with children who are attending less than five days, are hearing from your children that they want to go to school on the days they are not attending. :) How wonderful that they are learning to love their school, their friends, and their work!
Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment.” Maria Montessori
www.CMontessori.com
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