What to Look for in Montessori Schools in Texas

Montessori is an educational philosophy that focuses on self-motivated growth in children. The unique program builds on students’ natural love of learning. In the end, this structure helps them develop and grow in a happy, healthy environment. However, selecting the perfect Montessori for your child can be a difficult process.

Because the term “Montessori” is not copyrighted, any school can stamp the name onto their school without actually implementing the Montessori curriculum. Interestingly, out of the 4,000+ Montessori schools in the United States, only about 25% of them actually incorporate the Montessori curriculum! Therefore, it can be difficult to identify which schools are authentic. To make the process as easy as possible, we’ve compiled a list of ways to identify authentic Montessori schools in Texas.

Factors to Consider When Finding Montessori Schools in Texas

Accreditation

Schools often claim to be authentic Montessori programs when in reality, they are simply a charter or private school. Therefore, it is important for you to look for accreditation when looking for schools. You can often find accreditation information on the school’s website. However, in order to help you search for the best Montessori schools in Texas, AMI USA has a collection of accredited Montessori schools in Texas. Additionally, the American Montessori Society can help verify a school you might be looking at.

Montessori-Trained Teachers

The main role of a teacher is to nurture students as they grow. The American Montessori Society (AMS) trains teachers to pay careful attention to every individual in a classroom. Teachers thus create a safe child-centered environment for your kid to reach an optimal state of personal development. A resource provided to help parents find their ideal Montessori teacher is called Rate My Teachers. To find out if a school is Montessori, you should make sure AMS trained the teachers there.

Distinct Learning Environment

Montessori schools are child-centered learning environments. For example, ordinary public education systems focus on teaching their students, while an authentic Montessori school focuses on students’ ability to learn. True Montessori schools allow students to pick and choose their own curriculum and the pace at which they are learning.

Additionally, Montessori classrooms are known for their calm, peaceful environments. Children take their time on whatever project they choose to work on, making movement in the classroom relaxed. Likewise, every accredited Montessori program will have a beautiful classroom that encourages independence in the children, such as dull knives that allow children to cut snacks and low-hanging shelves so children have access to everything they need. Moreover, there are a lot of natural fibers and materials in the classroom, such as wood and glass, but few plastics. Lastly, each classroom has multiple age groups present; often, children are up to three years apart. These are simple, yet effective, ways to identify accredited Montessori schools.

Cultural Approach

Montessori schools aim to teach children how to interact with others. Interwoven in every subject, cultural awareness is evident in the way Montessori teachers interact with children. Essentially, educators teach students that their way isn’t always the best way. Children thus learn how to listen to others, appreciate others’ opinions, and respect everyone around them. If this value isn’t evident in the classroom curriculum, the school is probably not Montessori.

Enroll Your Child in a Montessori School in Texas Today!

Now that you know how to find accredited Montessori schools, you can start your search! One highly ranked Montessori school in Texas is Smaller Scholars Montessori Academy. This school understands the importance of individualized learning, holding each student accountable for a high degree of curriculum understanding. At the same time, teachers encourage children to learn at their own pace. Enroll your child today in a Montessori school near you!