I am in a unique position. I am a future homeschooler pursuing Montessori certification and a parent with an almost 4-year-old child in Montessori. It may be a director’s worst nightmare, but I think I am a positive person in her life. I know, understand, and embrace Montessori with all my heart in every aspect of our day.
Below are five simple ways to give parents what they want from Montessori educators.
At that same time, I respect her classroom environment and am eager (maybe too eager) to learn about her approach to the children. In any event, I thought it might be helpful to some of you Montessorians to give you a list from my perspective on What Parents Want.
What Parents Want from their Child’s Montessori School
- Communication – Generally from the Director and all teachers involved with a child (assistants, interns, and directors of classrooms).
- To Be Involved or Not – Ask that question immediately at the beginning of the year. Do you want to be involved, yes or no, if yes, proceed to these questions…also consider asking the parent if there is something he or she would like to share with the class that may not be listed on the questionnaire.
- Insight into their child’s day – I know directors have loads to do all day long, but if I could see an image or two once a week, I would be very happy. Kids don’t often convey what they did at school. Pictures say 1000 words.
- A General Understanding of Montessori – Give this information in small, concise doses. Bullet points if that works for you. Also, consider providing Paula Polk Lillard’s Montessori: A Modern Approach
as a welcome back to school or a welcome to the school gift to parents. - Help at Home – provide them with tangible resources to implement Montessori at Home. Montessori is a lifestyle, not just an education in the classroom. There are excellent books for parents but be careful to overwhelm parents. Provide them with a Montessori at Home suggestion once or twice a month. For example, please provide your child with a stool to reach the sink so he may wash his hands without an adult’s assistance or climb up to the sink in some dangerous way.
Thanks for reading!
Marnie