FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Primary (2 yrs To 6 yrs)

The student teacher ratio is 15:1.  Sharanalaya recruits Montessori trained teachers from reputed Montessori training institutes. They are Technically and spiritually prepared to help children in Montessori methodology. They are trained in classroom management techniques and hence can handle children efficiently. They have in depth understanding of child development and Montessori philosophy.  Dr. Montessori believed that Montessori teachers should focus on the child as a person. Montessori teachers closely monitor their student’s progress. Because they normally work with each child for two or three years, they get to know their students strengths and weaknesses, interests, and personalities extremely well. This helps the teachers to handle children better.

Language starts from the first day when a child enters the school. The vocabulary is enriched through stories, songs, conversation and oral group activities around pictures and phonetics. Alphabet is taught through phonetic sounds. Children associate the sounds with its symbol which is introduced through Sand paper Letter. By then children are well prepared to use the writing instrument and writing begins. When children are confident about all the sounds and are able to form words on their own reading is introduced. This procedure is followed for all the languages taught in a Montessori House of children – English, Tamil and Hindi.

Writing happens as an explosion in Montessori House of children. It differs for each child. The child is expected to repeat the Practical life activities, Drawing inset work and tracing Sand Paper letters many times which will prepare the child for writing. Tracing Sand Paper Letters regularly, create an urge in the child to write the symbols on paper. Ideally this happens around 4 years. All the language activities done from day one helps the child in writing and expressing thoughts independently.

Parents can use Montessori principles of child development at home, complementing your child’s experiences in Montessori school. Look at your home through your child’s eyes. Providing opportunities for independence is the surest way to build your child’s self-esteem.

Always spend quality time with children, take them out doors for socialisation and make them to engage in physical activities. Encourage them to be a part of house hold chores and make them responsible. Give your children clay dough, puzzle work, drawing and painting to enhance their motor skills. Make reading as a habit every day, you can read bed time stories for little ones and encourage older children to read books independently. When the child brings home work, he is capable of doing it on his own. So, motivate the child to complete his work.

Ideally a child is ready to read around 5 years. When the child is familiar with all the phonetic sounds of the letters, can make simple words then the child is presented how to put the sounds together and arrive at the word technically.  Then the child is introduced to sentences and paragraphs through command cards. Gradually the child acquires the technique to comprehend and take off with reading story books.

There is no specific snack time or lunch time in a Montessori house of children. Children can eat their snack whenever they are hungry. Children should become conscious of their hunger pangs and eat on their own. Lunch is in a group and with friends.

Parents should not feed the children instead help them to become independent in eating every meal. Create a family time for eating along with the children at least once in a day as it provides an opportunity for the children, to observe and learn good eating habits from other family members.

ELEMENTORY (6 yrs To 12 yrs)

In the primary classroom, a child is mostly free to explore the environment. The teachers observe, and present materials when they sense that the child is ready, but otherwise they practice “following the child”, believing that the child has an inner sense of what work they need to do.  In elementary, the expectations change. Now the child is required to learn certain things and work with certain materials. The elementary children may be given a contract or work plan that they have to complete in a week or month. Most lessons will be for a group rather than one-on-one. Sometimes, children find this a difficult adjustment to make. They may have problems choosing appropriate work, keeping track of their work, or finishing their work plan within the allotted time frame. However constant support from the adult and other children help in overcoming this difficulty.  Be an Informed Parent Knowledge about the Montessori philosophy and approach is important to support your child’s transition. If you seem confused about her school or question why she is doing certain things in class, it can compromise her experience. You are the most important person in her life and it’s essential that you understand the basics of her day to day life at school! Be sure to attend any and all parent education events at the school to be informed. Get to know your child’s teachers and ask questions. A few hours of your time, along with a curious and open mind, will help. Although it takes time for any child to adjust to a new classroom in a conventional school, recognize that it may take your child a bit longer to get into the groove of her Montessori Elementary classroom. After being the oldest child for her final year in Primary, she will be joining a community of older children with a new social dynamic. She may not understand the ins and outs of the classroom at first. She will be tired at the end of the day from all of the new things to see, learn, and do. We work hard, as a community, to help your child feel as comfortable and as welcome as possible. It’s normal, however, for your child to express discontent or to even verbalize, on occasion, a desire to go back to her Primary classroom!