Cambridge
Day School

2620 Cambridge Beltway
Cambridge Md. 21613
410.228.8397

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Montessori philosophy and how can my child benefit from it?

Montessori educators believe that a child learns best within a social environment that supports and encourages his or her unique development. At Cambridge Day School, your child will benefit from the full spectrum of Montessori values, including:

Ø      The "whole child" approach ... Helping each child reach full potential in all areas of life is the primary goal of Montessori education. In addition to cognitive learning, classroom activities promote the development of social skills, emotional growth, and physical coordination. Under the direction of Montessori-trained teachers, your child will experience the joy of learning and time to enjoy the process. The Montessori approach encourages the development of self-esteem, and provides the experiences from which your child can create his or her knowledge.

Ø      The "prepared environment” ... In order for self-directed learning to take place, the whole learning environment, materials and social climate are designed to encourage your child’s natural curiosity and initiative. The teacher creates a safe, positive and calm climate. Your child will enjoy a warm relationship with his or her teacher that encourages trust and confidence.

Ø      The Montessori materials ... Montessori education involves a number of multi-sensory, sequential and self-correcting materials. These materials help your child master varied of skills and ultimately lead him or her to the understanding of abstract ideas and concepts.

Ø      The teacher ... The Montessori teacher functions as designer of the environment, resource person, role model, demonstrator, record-keeper and meticulous observer of your child's behavior and growth. At CDS, when you meet with your child’s teacher, she will share with you an analysis of your child’s progress in diverse areas of intellectual and social development, and suggestions as to how you can encourage continued progress.

2.  How did Montessori education begin?

As the first woman physician to graduate from the University of Rome, Dr. Maria Montessori became involved with education as a doctor treating children labeled as retarded.  In 1907, she was invited to open a child care center for the children of poor families in the San Lorenzo slums of Rome. She called her center a "A Children's House" and based the program on her observations that young children learn best in a homelike setting, filled with developmentally-appropriate materials that provide experiences contributing to the growth of self-motivated, independent learners. She established the following principles:

Ø      Children are to be respected as different from adults and as individuals who are different from one another.

Ø      Children create themselves through purposeful activity.

Ø      The most important years for learning are from birth to age six.

Ø      Children possess unusual sensitivity and mental powers for absorbing and learning from their environment, which includes people as well as materials.

Dr. Montessori carried her message throughout the world. The teaching methods became popular in the 1950s, followed by the establishment of the American Montessori Society in 1960. Today, there are more than 9,000 independent and public Montessori schools in the U.S.

3.  How does the Montessori approach work?

In schools where the Montessori model is followed, the teacher acts as a facilitator of learning.  the guiding principle of each classroom is “freedom within limits.” At CDS the Primary Class includes children from 2 1/2 through kindergarten.

The three-year-age span provides a family-like grouping where learning takes place naturally. More experienced children share, while reinforcing, their own learning. Because this peer group learning is intrinsic to Montessori, there is often more conversation-language experience in the Montessori classroom than in conventional early education settings.

Children work at their own pace with materials they have chosen, either alone or with others. The teacher relies on his or her observations of each child to determine which new activities and materials should be introduced. The aim is to encourage active, self-directed learning and to achieve a balance of individual mastery with small group collaboration.

4.  How will CDS programs develop my child’s creativity?

CDS teachers and staff recognize that each child learns and expresses himself in a very individual way. Creativity flourishes in an atmosphere of acceptance and trust.  Music, art, storytelling, movement and drama play important roles in the CDS Montessori program. But there are other things particular to the Montessori environment that encourage creative development: many materials that stimulate interest and involvement ...  an emphasis on the sensory aspect of experience ... and the opportunity for both verbal and nonverbal modes of learning.

5.  What happens when my child leaves Montessori-based classrooms for a more traditional school setting?

Research has shown that the best predictor of future success is a sense of self-esteem.  Because they are based on self-directed, non-competitive activities, Montessori programs help children develop good self-images and the confidence to face challenges and change with optimism.

Montessori-taught children are unusually adaptable. They have learned to work independently and in groups. Since they've been encouraged to make decisions from an early age, these children are problem-solvers who can make choices and manage their time well. They have also been encouraged to exchange ideas, to discuss their work freely with others -- and their strong communication skills ease their way in new settings.

CDS “alumni” are now enrolled in many other schools, both locally and further afield, and we receive very positive reports on their continued success as students and leaders in their new schools. If you would like to talk directly with a current or former CDS parent, please let us know.