Frequently Asked Questions.

What is the difference between Montessori and traditional education?

Montessori is an entirely different and unique approach to education that places a special emphasis on the senses. In a Montessori classroom children are encouraged to learn at their own pace and are given the freedom to choose from any number of possible activities that are carefully positioned throughout the classroom.

What is a Montessori classroom?

The classroom of a Montessori school is neat and orderly and the materials that are displayed are specifically designed to foster concentration, self-discipline and most importantly, the confidence and independence that is needed to establish a basis for a life of education. The class itself is comprised of a mixed-age group of children, forming a community that offers the children a second home, one in which the directress observers and guides the children. 

How are Montessori directresses trained?

The role of the director in the Montessori classroom is not founded upon the traditional model of teacher, as one that teaches in front of the class, but rather on the notion that the director should guide the children and ‘help them to help themselves’. Montessori directors are taught the principles and methods of the Montessori approach to education, both theoretically and practically, in training centers throughout the world, most of which require at least a bachelors degree for admission. 

Who accredits Montessori schools?

One of the most important things to consider is if the Montessori school is certified and if the teachers are Montessori trained. Anyone can use the Montessori name so it is important to research the qualifications of the school. There are two recognized Montessori associations that can accredit schools. The first is the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), founded by Maria Montessori, and the second is the American Montessori Society (AMS). The Baan Dek Montessori is proud to announce that we have become the first AMI affiliated school in the history of the state of South Dakota!

What Montessori programs are offered?

The Baan Dek Montessori currently offers a primary school education for children between the ages of two and a half and six years old, but there are future plans to include both a toddler and an elementary Montessori program. Classroom programs include: 1. Full-Day Montessori (8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)    2. Half-Day Montessori (8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.). Before and After Care is also available from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Why Montessori?

Montessori education concentrates on the specific needs of the child. Children are taught on a one-to-one basis in a prepared environment, specially designed to meet the requirements of Maria Montessori. This shift in focus, from the traditional classroom model, helps to create a better sense of self for the children, both in terms of independence and self-discipline. Not only are the educational needs of the children met and nurtured, but also, and just as important in Montessori, their social development is enhanced in an environment of mixed-ages (from two and a half to six), predicated on openness and diversity. 

Why are Montessori programs five days a week?

In the Montessori approach to education consistency is extremely important in developing the child's sense of order and responsibility. They truly feel as if the classroom is their second home and they desire to maintain and care for it. At this formative age, routine is of the utmost importance. The idea is that the more consistency now, the better the foundation for learning in the future. Often, the problems that arise later, such as lack of discipline and lack of concentration, are a direct result of the failure to provide a consistent basis for education.