Navigating Montessori Parent-Teacher Conferences
Your child has been in school for a few months. They seem to be having fun. You may or may not have any idea what they are learning or whether they are learning. Parent-teacher conferences come up and you have tons of questions. The main one: “Is my child doing well?”
How to Prepare
If this is your first experience with a Montessori conference, you may not know what to expect. As you prepare for your meeting with the teacher, sit down and think of all the questions you have about your child’s schooling. Write them down.
Then reflect on the list and prioritize what you really need to know. Think, what would I be disappointed if I didn’t know?
Some things to think of:
How is my child socially?
Can my child focus for a long time?
Does my child follow rules and limits?
Does my child ask for help?
What to Expect
The teacher will likely talk through the five main areas of the classroom and give you a few examples of works or concepts your child is practicing. As you prepare for the conference, use my Parent-Teacher Conference Worksheet to help you organize your notes. The teacher may also give you the goals they have for your child based on their observations.
Montessori classrooms are divided into five main areas.
Practical Life
Activities include sweeping, pouring, watering plants, and spooning.
This area develops practical skills, which indirectly builds concentration, order, and independence.
Sensorial
Materials develop the many senses of a child through items that are beautiful and enticing.
This area focuses on refining the senses and indirectly prepares the child for more complex work like math.
Language
This area includes letter sounds, writing, pre-reading, matching, patterning, and more.
By using fun materials, the child develops the many skills required before reading.
Math
This area introduces mathematical concepts through concrete materials that represent complex abstract ideas.
This ranges from counting and understanding quantities to division.
Cultural Studies
This area includes biology, geography, physics, multicultural studies, and more.
Classification and learning facts is the focus of this area.
Social-Emotional Development Is Very Important
A fall conference may only include a few of these subject areas and may focus more on the social and emotional development of your child.
Social interactions bring up lots of emotions: A young 3-year-old is just engaging with other children and is learning to navigate taking turns and respecting boundaries of others. A great deal of their day is focused on this.
The classroom allows your child to express themselves: They have the opportunity to express desires and needs and to act on those in the moment. For instance, when they need to use the toilet they are able to go right away.
Montessori environments include a range of ages: Each primary classroom has children from ages 3 to 6. These children learn from one another and have opportunities for leadership and apprenticeship all at once.
Teachers guide based on the needs of the child: For example, if they see the child is hitting instead of talking when they want a child to leave them alone, the teacher will work on grace and courtesy lessons around talking to another child and setting boundaries.
Grace and courtesy is part of the curriculum: Lessons allow practice on how to work with others and respect another child. Grace and courtesy includes:
Walking around a child’s work rug instead of on top of it
Waiting to use a work until the other child is finished
Taking turns talking
Solving conflict peacefully
A fall conference may be devoted completely to these ideas rather than focusing on academic materials because without these concepts in place your child cannot progress academically as successfully.
Remember: Montessori Curriculum Is Individualized
Most children of similar ages are developmentally ready for similar concepts, and there are academic goals for each age. However, these are not set in stone. If a 3-year-old has the capacity to concentrate and understand language, they may begin blending sounds together as an introduction to reading. The goals for each age don’t need to be limiting; the curriculum is tailored to the individual.
These goals also allow for the teacher to ensure that the child is exposed to a variety of materials and concepts, even if they aren’t drawn to that area naturally.
The job of a Montessori teacher is to observe what piques a child’s interest and then provide that type of material in different areas of the classroom so the child can be drawn to those areas where they may not otherwise want to go.
For example, let’s say one boy is very interested in, and talks only about, dinosaurs. He may only engage in the dinosaur-matching work every day. The child is ready for math but does not naturally take math materials from the shelf, even though he has learned through lessons how to complete them. The teacher observes his interest, adds mini-dinosaurs to the classroom’s counting work, and makes sure to show him. Thus, his interest is now in counting, because there are dinosaurs to count.
Be Sure to Ask Questions
Even though your child’s teacher may be rushing to convey as much information as possible in your limited conference time, you have the right to have your questions answered. But remember that this is just the beginning. You can email and set up time to meet again or have a phone call to ensure you get your questions answered.
Most teachers are happy to share the progress of your child. Teachers are human; they miss things or make mistakes. Please reach out if you feel something is off. Sometimes you may be left with concerns. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the school administration to ask for a larger conference with them involved if you have concerns about your child’s teacher.
You are the number one advocate for your child and you are their cheerleader. If you feel like their teacher is not seeing them fully, make sure to follow up. When a parent reaches out and advocates for their child, teachers respond and make changes to benefit the child.