Did you know that Montessori is an option in Helena’s public elementary schools?
There are three Montessori classrooms in Smith, Central, and Broadwater schools, for a total of nine classrooms serving up to 192 students. Montessori classrooms differ from traditional classrooms in the following respects:
Students have the opportunity to mentor their peers, thereby reinforcing learning concepts. Parent and caregiver volunteers are encouraged to contribute in the classroom to offer the support needed to facilitate the individualization of work.
In our district, decisions about Montessori are best made in terms of what fits each family’s needs. Montessori is not available at all neighborhood schools, so a child might have to travel outside his/her neighborhood to attend. When choosing Montessori, parents should be comfortable with the idea of their children using hands-on learning materials and learning methods different from those that they may have experienced in elementary school. Finally, parent participation is strongly encouraged as a key to student success.
What should kindergarten parents do if they are interested in the Montessori program?
For additional questions, please contact Jill Nyman at jnyman@helenaschools.org, or visit helenaschools.org/departments/montessori/.