LPP FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q. Why should my child attend LPP Montessori?
A. LPP is not a traditional school. Its approach to learning is based on the belief that each child is an individual, developing at his/her own pace. LPP values diversity and promotes intellectual growth for each child.

Q. Can I visit my child's classroom during school hours?
A. Parents can observe classes during school hours. Observations of classes begins the first week of October and ends the last week of April. Each class is limited to two observers. Please call LPP to set an appointment.

Q. What are the hours of the school day?
A. Arrival is from 8:30-9:00 a.m. and dismissal is from 2:30-3:00 p.m.

Q. Is there a dress code for students at LPP?
A. Education is a formal process. Uniforms are required and can be purchased at selected stores. Please call us at 305-867-4244 for more information.

Q. Where did Montessori come from?
A. Montessori (pronounced MON-tuh-SORE-ee) education was founded in 1907 by Dr. Maria Montessori, the first woman in Italy to become a physician. She based her educational methods on scientific observation of children's learning processes. Guided by her discovery that children teach themselves, Dr. Montessori designed a "prepared environment" in which children could freely choose from a number of developmentally appropriate activities. Now, nearly a century after Maria Montessori's first “Casa dei Bambini” ("children's house") in Rome, Montessori education is found all over the world, spanning ages from birth to adolescence.

Q. What is the difference between Montessori and traditional education?
A. Montessori emphasizes learning through all five senses, not just through listening, watching, or reading. Children in Montessori classes learn at their own, individual pace and according to their own choice of activities from hundreds of possibilities. Learning is an exciting process of discovery, leading to concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of learning. Montessori classes place children in three-year age groups (3-6, 6-9,9-12, and so on), forming communities in which the older children spontaneously share their knowledge with the younger ones. Montessori represents an entirely different approach to education.

Q. Who accredits or oversees Montessori schools?
A. There are several Montessori organizations to which schools can belong. The two major ones operating in the United States are the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI, with a U.S. branch office called AMI-USA) and the American Montessori Society (AMS)

Q. How many Montessori schools are there?
A. NAMTA estimates that there are about 4,000 Montessori schools in the United States and about 7,000 worldwide.

Q. What special training do Montessori teachers have?
A. The two major organizations offering Montessori training in the United States are the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI, with a U.S. branch office called AMI-USA) and the American Montessori Society (AMS). Most training centers require a bachelor's degree for admission. Training ranges from 200 to 600 pre-service contact hours and covers principles of child development and Montessori philosophy as well as specific uses of the Montessori classroom materials. Montessori training centers can be found across North America and around the world.