What exactly is a Montessori School? And how does it differ from "normal" schooling??

Answer 1

Maria Montessori was the founder of Montessori schools. She started them, in Italy -if I recall right, to help impoverished children (who did not have the same advantages as wealthier
kids) get a "leg up" in their education. She provided many tactile activities for the children she worked with.

Sadly, in my honest opinion, Montessori schools have evolved into schools for wealthy kids. So far away from the roots of M. Montessori's vision for the schools.

Generally speaking, the Montessori classrooms of today are multiage, quiet environments that emphasize tactile learning and immersion in the arts. They are expensive, and not all children thrive in that situation.

Here is a nice biography of Maria Montessori... If you are considering a Montessori school, it would be best for you to request to sit in and observe a couple of school days and see, for yourself, whether you like a particular school or not.

Answer 2

Montessori is an educational philosophy that allows independent and individual learning processes. Working at individual levels towards self-set goals in self-determined areas of expertise.

Answer 3

I don't know exactly, but they are very strict. After the door bell stopped working I went in to use the phone one morning and caught one of the teachers screaming at one of the kids. She was teaching the alphabet. I took my daughter out of it shortly after and notified the program which was paying for childcare. They told me that children turn out real good coming from those schools. I also heard they get treated like they're in the army.