A parent's guide to Gladwyne Montessori
If you're considering Gladwyne Montessori for your child, you probably have many questions about our school. We also warmly welcome you to experience our unique school first-hand. Please call 610-649-1761, ext. 101 to schedule your visit.
Here are some questions and comments we often hear from prospective parents:
1. Why are the students placed in mixed-age classrooms?
Our classrooms are organized into 3-year age spans, so each child takes his turn among the youngest, middle and oldest in the class, interacting as people do in the real world. The younger children are inspired by watching the older ones, while older students teach the younger children - an essential component in the learning process.
2. How does the typical day work at Gladwyne Montessori?
Days are divided into 3-hour work cycles, where students explore concepts one at a time until they are ready to move on to another. Our curriculum highlights a single topic across multiple subjects, and students focus on different areas of interest until every required task is completed. Classrooms utilize natural materials - with everything child-sized and well organized. As children grow, simple concepts become abstract, and deeper meaning unfolds.
3. It seems like a lot of schools call themselves "Montessori." Is there a difference?
Yes! At Gladwyne Montessori, we adhere to strict Montessori principles developed in the late 1800s by Dr. Maria Montessori. Our staff is Montessori trained and certified, and our school is affiliated with the American Montessori Society and accredited by the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - State Board of Private Academic Schools. We are focused on realizing the potential within every child, through self-reliance, purposeful learning and social harmony.
4. I've been told that Gladwyne Montessori is really best for preschool . Once my child gets to kindergarten or 1st grade, private or public schools are a better choice.
Your child reaps the full benefit of the Gladwyne Montessori experience by remaining here from ages 2-12. As our one-of-a-kind curriculum unfolds, she will build on what she's learned in previous years, gain complex thinking skills and take on sophisticated academic subjects, from algebraic reasoning to Spanish to world culture. Please ask to see our curriculum overview for more information.
5. I heard that Gladwyne Montessori students have a tougher time transitioning to middle school, coming from such a small school then changing in 7th grade.
We've been educating successful, dynamic, confident students since 1962. Your child will be ideally prepared to leave our school and attend middle school - as an engaged scholar, adept at time management and accustomed to rigorous academics. Our students are outgoing, warm and accepting, having experienced a mixed-age classroom where everyone feels important.
6. The Montessori approach to education is too unorganized. It looks like the kids just do whatever they want.
Don't be confused by our non-traditional classroom. Our teachers don't lecture in front of rows of desks. Rather, after explaining a topic, the teacher then encourages children to explore for themselves, taking as much time as each child needs to master a task. The teacher constantly observes and records each child's progress to ensure that no one falls behind.
7. Montessori isn't a good place for boys. There's not enough social interaction or sports.
That depends on how you want your son to learn. If you'd like him to develop critical thinking skills, independence, self-esteem and acceptance toward others - while experiencing an outstanding, sophisticated curriculum - you should consider Gladwyne Montessori. Our small class sizes, comprised of mixed ages, yield a one-of-a-kind opportunity to interact with others on a deeper level. And while we can't boast the area's largest gym or swimming pool, our students enjoy all kinds of athletics, during regular physical education classes and afterschool activities that include everything from football to soccer.
8. Gladwyne Montessori is too high pressure.
On the contrary. We allow each student to learn at her own pace, encouraging her to make good choices, solve problems and develop superior time management skills. There is an overall sense of calm in our classrooms, so students do not feel pressured to complete a project according to a set schedule. At the same time, they do understand the scope of their responsibilities and are self-directed to master tasks.
9. If I send my child to Gladwyne Montessori beyond kindergarten, she won't get into another school afterward.
Our students have gone on to excel - academically and socially - at virtually every school in the area, including Haverford , Episcopal, Shipley, Agnes Irwin, Lower Merion public schools, Friends Central and Baldwin. When our students get to college and graduate school, they are equally as stellar. You'll find our grads at the most prestigious schools worldwide, from Harvard to Oxford. It's no wonder that so many of our alumni have become such amazing adults.
