Montessori has become somewhat of a movement with over 5,000 schools now in the U.S., and many in NYC. Whether your little ones are currently enrolled in a Montessori school or not, we’re sure you’ve heard the buzz around this unique approach to education. More than ever with blended learning becoming a reality, it’s important to find the right school for your kiddo! That’s why we’ve decided to coordinate your top priorities when looking for a school with how the Montessori education fulfills them. Whether your primary concern is individualized learning, affordability, or the available resources and opportunities, we’ve got you covered.
Find out how Montessori schools match your top priorities for your child’s education with our Parent-Personalized Guide to Montessori!
Priority: Resources
If you’re looking for a school that’s overloaded with the best resources for your kids, you’ve come to the right place with Montessori. With specialized learning materials that you won’t see in other classrooms, Montessori uses their resources to develop interactions that encourage confidence and self-sufficiency. For example, “Golden Beads” introduce kids to the decimal system with concrete representations of place value, and “The Pink Tower”, with the largest cube on the bottom, introduces preschoolers to vocabulary like “largest” and “smallest”. You may hear the term “control of error” around the Montessori community, which basically means that materials are designed so kids get instant feedback about their progress and learn from errors without adult assistance. There are also opportunities to develop and run a business, class government, experiences in nature, and plenty of hands-on activities so kids can choose what they want to work on.
Priority: Individualized Learning
Do you prioritize an education for your kiddo that really focuses on their own personal progress and learning needs? Montessori recognizes that all students learn at different paces, so teachers focus on each student’s individual needs. The Montessori curriculum is also intentionally grouped into 3-year cycles, rather than broken out into year-by-year expectations for student learning. Kids are encouraged to pursue their own interests and curiosities, taking the time they need to fully understand each concept and meet individualized learning goals. Montessori students learn to take care of themselves and their environment- they wash tables, organize shelves, prepare their own meals, and assist younger children.
Priority: Supportive Community
Once you join the Montessori network, you become a part of a much larger community of teachers, students, and parents all working together. As children mature in the Montessori classroom, they understand that they are a part of a community where everyone has their own individual needs, but they’re also encouraged to contribute to the community. The environment is super loving and the classrooms are thoughtfully arranged, welcoming each student into the community with open arms. Montessori learners recognize themselves as part of multiple communities- the community of the classroom, the community of the family, and the community of the wider world. And even with distance learning, Montessori was still able to facilitate a strong virtual community!
Priority: Well-Rounded Curriculum
Teachers carefully observe your kids in the classroom (or virtually!) to customize the curriculum for their own unique abilities, interests, and learning style. In the Infants & Toddlers program, little ones develop skills such as language, concentration, problem solving, visual discrimination, and physical coordination. The Early Childhood classroom offers your child five areas of study: Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, Language, and Cultural Studies. Similarly, the Elementary program includes Science and Social studies, Cultural Studies, Language, Math, and Practical Life. In the Secondary program, there are advanced courses in language arts, mathematics, sciences, and social studies, as well as specialized courses, including world languages, visual and performing arts, health and fitness, field studies, and service learning. The “spiral curriculum” introduces students to many interrelated topics, repeatedly over time, to instill a broad and deep knowledge.
Priority: Location Convenience
You want a school that’s on your route to work in the morning or nearby your neighborhood so that dropping your kids off and picking them up fits smoothly into your busy NYC schedule- we totally get it! Luckily, there are a ton of Montessori schools throughout all four NYC boroughs. From Battery Park to SoHo to Morningside Heights and everything in between, location is certainly not a barrier with the abundance of Montessori schools. Whether classes are in-person or remote, you won’t have to worry about going out of your way to get your kiddo to school.
Priority: Affordability
School is expensive these days, and with summer camp fees coming up, affordability of a school is for sure a concern. Thankfully, public and charter Montessori schools are on the rise in the U.S., and public education is free! As for now, most Montessori education is provided in private schools, and tuition can vary based on location, age, hours, and other factors. However, the American Montessori Society says: “Don’t be afraid to ask about a school’s financial aid opportunities. It is one of the most common questions parents ask of private-school administrators.” Many Montessori schools offer financial aid for families in need, and some schools have reduced tuition when you enroll more than one child.
Priority: Education for Kids with Special Needs
Does your child have special needs and you’re looking for a school that will accomodate them? The Montessori education provides a nurturing environment for kids of all abilities and learning styles, including kids with special needs, physical disabilities, learning differences in reading, spelling, and math, ADHD, and mild to moderate autism spectrum disorders. Because kids learn in multi-age classes with the same teacher for three years, this provides a stable, predictable environment and sustained connection that particularly suits kids with special needs. Learning at Montessori is also multi-sensory and hands-on, and because teachers tailor education to specific needs, kids with disabilities get the individualized learning experience that works for them. Free from the pressure of meeting formal standards of learning, like grade-level benchmarks, kids with special needs can really take their time and develop a unique educational and developmental path.
Montessori Schools Listings
MANHATTAN
21 South End Ave, NY NY
212-235-2325
Battery Park Montessori is New York’s only AMS member, trilingual Montessori school, offering our 2-6 year old students exposure to both Spanish and Mandarin languages in our beautiful ground-level riverside location with a secure outdoor playground along a tree-lined promenade. Our children thrive in pristine prepared environments guided by trained and qualified teachers that ensure the social, emotional, cognitive, academic, and physical development of each child. Battery Park Montessori is located at 21 South End Avenue in Battery Park City. We offer rolling admissions, and there are limited spots available for 2020-‘21 and for the 2021-’22 school year.
BROOKLYN
277 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
718-499-5667, ext. 14
This pre-primary Montessori school provides a respectful, inclusive community, helping children feel powerful and confident as learners and as social and emotional beings. Toddler, half-day and extended day programs are available for ages 2 to 6. Rivendell School offers beautiful Montessori classrooms, an excellent student/teacher ratio, and a warm, cooperative atmosphere where children learn to work and play.
WESTCHESTER
Liberty Montessori Summer Science Program and Fall Classes
155 Beechmont Dr., New Rochelle
914-636-3461
631 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck
914-777-1382
Liberty offers programs yearly for toddlers through 4th grade. Parents will find a unique kindergarten enrichment curriculum, a special music program, and the Challenger Program for advanced students. Multilingual programs in Chinese, French, German, Spanish, and Japanese are also offered. For summers this school continues to focus on inspiring creative thinking and hands-on scientific exploration. Indoor and outdoor summer fun activities are based on a thematic approach to bringing the young scientist to the surface in all preschoolers. Presented through an interdisciplinary curriculum for children ages 17 months to 7 years.
Montessori School of Pelham Manor
1415 Pelhamdale Avenue, Bronx, New York
914-738-1127
Upholding a “tradition of excellence” for over 35 years, this school firmly holds to the principles of child development devised by Dr. Maria Montessori. Children ages 3 to 5 work with apparatus in a prepared environment progressing at their own rate, developing the confidence and love of learning that is the hallmark of Montessori Our small class sizes make it easy for our instructors to find out how to best cater to your child’s unique learning needs. Prepare your child for a lifetime of learning.
The Nurtury Montessori Schools
431 N. Ridge St., Rye Brook
11 North Brook Rd., Larchmont
2097 Palmer Ave., Larchmont
1144 North Ave., New Rochelle
1146 North Ave., New Rochelle
130 Flandreau Ave., New Rochelle
914- 632-6200
The Nurtury is committed to promoting quality, full-time Montessori childcare for children ages six weeks to 6 years. The first six years of life are when intelligence and personality are formed. We significantly understand this concept, and as a result, The Nurtury has set the standard for full-time Montessori childcare. Contact [email protected] directly for more information.
