The Montessori method, created by Italian physician Maria Montessori over a hundred years ago, is recognized worldwide. It focuses on helping children become independent, learn through hands-on activities, and work in thoughtfully designed spaces. In Montessori classrooms, children participate in age-appropriate tasks, guided by highly trained teachers.

Montessori assessment avoids traditional tests, focusing on authentic tasks and ongoing feedback to support holistic growth and self-directed learning. Through formative assessment, teachers observe students’ progress, identify areas for improvement, and guide them toward mastery. This continuous, low-pressure process prioritizes feedback over grades to nurture development effectively. As students move into the high school years, grades are introduced to enable the development of transcripts.

Most Montessori schools do not assign homework to children below the adolescent level. When it is assigned to the older students, it rarely involves page after page of busy work; instead, they are given meaningful, interesting assignments that expand on the topics that they are pursuing in class.

Mixed-age classrooms are an integral part of the Montessori approach. They allow children to see diverse ways of tackling the same task, as each age group contributes its own ideas and solutions. This creates opportunities for learning through observation, direct practice, and even peer teaching. Being surrounded by children of different ages naturally encourages curiosity and inspires individuals to pause and learn from those around them.

Two- and three-day programs are often attractive to parents who do not need full-time care; however, five-day programs create the consistency that is so important to young children, and which is essential in developing strong Montessori programs. Since the primary goal of Montessori involves creating a culture of consistency, order, and empowerment, most Montessori schools will expect children to attend five days a week