You are in for a treat!
Whether you are considering Montessori for your child, preparing for parent-teacher conferences, or have a child moving into this program level—we’re glad you’re here! You are welcome to take notes during your observation, and we encourage you to send along any follow-up questions to Program Director Caitlin Sweeney, csweeney@sunstonemontessori.org.
Observation Guidelines
An authentic Montessori classroom is truly the children’s environment. It is one of the few places where children can have an experience that is all their own. As a courtesy to the children and the Guide, we ask that you make your presence as unobtrusive as possible to minimize your effect on the classroom.
- Please remain in your chair during the observation—there’s a lot to see.
- Silence your cell phone and keep it out of sight.
- Do not initiate conversation with the children, tempting as it may be! If a child greets you, feel free to respond appropriately but refrain from prolonging the conversation.
- The teachers may not be able to engage or answer questions, as they are working with children.
Some Things You Might Look For
- Children working individually, children working collaboratively
- Children working toward independence; adults intentionally giving children space to self-manage, struggle, and overcome obstacles independently
- Adults offering connection, support, and gentle redirection as needed
- The use and encouragement of social graces
- Activities that inspire concentration; adults refraining from interrupting children’s concentration
- An orderly and interesting environment
- A wide variety of subjects and materials being worked on
- Joyous learning and discovering
Departure
A staff member will come and give you a wave from the classroom door to signal the end of your observation. As you leave, we ask that you respect the privacy of the individual children in any subsequent conversations you may have about our classroom.
Resources for You
Independence and the Montessori Child
7 Ways to Encourage Independence
Intrinsic Motivation Lasts a Lifetime
Logical and Natural Consequences