Have you completed a virtual tour? Now you’re ready for a classroom observation!
Here’s what you can expect during your visit to Hollis Montessori School:
We will spend time visiting before and after your observation, so allow 1.5 hours for your visit.
Please remember that this visit is for adults only. Children need to remain at home. Your child will have an opportunity to visit at a later time. If multiple parents/guardians want to visit and childcare is challenging, we welcome you to register for separate classroom observations so that each adult can participate.
Our Admissions Director will greet you. After a brief introduction, she will give you a clipboard for you to jot down any questions that may arise during your visit, then she will guide you to the classroom where you will have the opportunity to sit quietly to observe the class. We will then guide you to the next level classroom so you can observe in there as well. Both observations will take approximately 30 minutes. If you’re applying more than one child to our program, please anticipate more time to observe more classrooms.
Our Mixed Age Classrooms
Maria Montessori’s vision was for mixed ages to work together in the same environment, with one lead teacher, or “guide”, and one assistant. Children from 3 to 6 years old are part of our Children’s House classrooms. Children from 6 to 9 years old comprise the Lower Elementary, and 9 to 12 years in the Upper Elementary.
Children work independently and in small groups, practicing skills appropriate to their abilities and interests. They also receive individual and small group lessons (we call these “presentations”) in all areas of the classroom. With guidance and experience in the Montessori classroom, children become skilled at independently choosing work for themselves.
As you spend time in our classrooms, you may observe:
The environment is organized and attractive
The teacher acts as a guide to connect the children to meaningful challenges in the classroom environment
Multi-sensory, hands-on materials are in regular use
Each child has the opportunity to choose work that interests them
The emphasis is on learning by doing and social development rather than drills, memorizations, or finding information only to answer specific questions
A child may work as long as they want on an interesting challenge without being interrupted
The child is allowed to choose a favorite spot to work instead of the adult choosing where they may sit
Children are encouraged to teach, collaborate, and help each other
The children have a regular opportunity to work with peers of different ages
The teachers and staff show respect for the children
Children are respectful of the teacher and the environment
The guides and the environment encourages internal self-discipline rather than the teacher acting as the primary enforcer of rules
Learning is its own reward, not motivated by prizes and extrinsic rewards
The children are calm, focused, and joyful
All of these activities are a normal part of the life in our classroom.
It's important to remember that the children are busy and any interruptions can cause a break in concentration. You should stay seated during your visit and not engage the children in conversation. If a child starts a conversation with you during your visit, you can remind them that you are here to observe their work and need to continue observing. Likewise, you should also refrain from talking with other observing adults.
School Tour and Q&A
Following your classroom observations our Admissions Director will give you a short tour of our school. Afterward, she will sit down with you to discuss your observations and answer your questions.
For information about the next steps in our admissions process, see How to Apply.
Please choose a time to observe from the calendar below:
Observation days are highlighted in blue.
Have a question? Please contact:
Carli Ford, Admissions Director
(603) 400-1515
admissions@hollismontessori.org