FAQ's
Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
How many children do you care for at the same time?
We care for approximately 39 children: around 9 in infants, 12 in toddlers and 18 in pre-primary.
What is the child to adult ratio?
Our infant and toddler programs have three teachers in the classroom each day with 3-4 students for each teacher.
Our pre-primary program has three teachers in the classroom each day with 6-8 students for each teacher.
What if my child turns 3 years old this school year?
Your child should finish the school year at Montessori Children’s House and is more than welcome to attend for the summer.
What is the minimum amount of days per week that I can enroll my child?
2 half days a week. This can be mornings of afternoons.
When my child is enrolled in your program, can I bring him/her for an extra day as a drop off?
Yes, that is if we have been informed of another child being absent that day and we know that we will have an opening for your child. Parent fill out a drop-in request form and the additional fees are added to the child's next month statement.
Do you have school in the Summer?
Yes, except for one to two weeks in August to clean and prepare for the new school year.
Are you a licensed childcare program?
Yes. Montessori Children’s House is a limited liability company (LLC) registered in the State of Montana. We are licensed as a child care center through the Montana Department of Health and Human Services Child Care Licensing Bureau.
What is a typical day like for a child at Montessori Children's House?
See our A Day in the Life page for details ~
For the very young children, each child has their own schedule. The need for individual feeding and nap time is respected.
For the older children, the morning starts in the activity room, followed by a group circle, then an uninterrupted independent work period and playground time.
In the afternoon the students eat lunch, have naps, do line work: movement, music, small and large group lessons, French, etc., continue independent work, Arts & Crafts and playground time.
What is the difference between Montessori and traditional education?
Montessori education is a unique approach to teaching & learning, where teachers provide the prepared environment and children are free to discover and grow at their own pace.
Children in Montessori classrooms receive one-on-one and group lessons and are then free to choose their own activities from the carefully designed lessons they have received instruction on.
This approach to learning supports and encourages the exciting process of discovery, leading to concentration, self motivation and discipline as well as laying the foundation for a natural, life long love of learning.
Are Montessori children successful later in life?
Research studies show that Montessori children are well prepared for adult life not only academically, but also socially and emotionally as well.
In addition to scoring well on standardized tests, Montessori children are ranked above average on such criteria as following directions, turning in work on time, listening attentively, using basic skills, showing responsibility, asking provocative questions, showing enthusiasm for learning, negotiating social interactions and adapting to new situations.
In April of 2011, the Wall Street Journal wrote an article about business leaders who attended Montessori schools, including the founders of Google, Amazon and Wikipedia, to name a few.
How many Montessori schools are there?
There are an estimated 5,000 certified Montessori schools in the United States and about 20,000 worldwide.
Are Montessori schools religious?
Some Montessori schools have a religious affiliation, but most do not. Montessori Children’s House in Bozeman is not affiliated with any religious association.
How does the teacher keep track of the progress of students who are working independently?
The Montessori method of education is designed to support different learning styles, helping students learn to work and study in a way that is effective for them.
Students progress as they master new skills, building on their prior experiences and moving ahead when they are ready. The children move through a logical progression from the initial lesson, to repetition with help or input from the teacher, to independence and mastery.
The teacher keeps records of where each child is in this process, looking for signs of mastery and readiness to proceed. An inventory of the lessons and projects completed by each student is reviewed frequently.