FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Have questions? We're here to assist you. If you need further support, don't hesitate to contact us!
Who is Montessori Scholars Academy (MSA)?
Montessori Scholars Academy (MSA) in Milton, GA, is dedicated to providing a joyful, enriching education. We follow high Montessori teaching standards and focus on the skills needed for today’s world. MSA holds accreditations from Bright From the Start Quality Rated and the Georgia Accrediting Commission. All Lead Guides are Montessori certified after completing official training and practicums before leading a classroom.
What is Montessori?
Montessori is an educational approach focused on fostering independence and learning. Montessori schools are not affiliated with any religion and encourage children to become self-motivated learners.
What are “Sensitive Periods”?
Sensitive periods refer to times when children are especially ready to acquire specific skills. These “formative periods” allow them to learn concepts more easily than at other times.
Why are Montessori children generally more self-confident, outgoing, and self-reliant?
Montessori education respects each child’s personality, offering independence and free choice. Through self-paced, self-correcting activities, children build confidence and a sense of achievement.
What is Montessori’s concept of “Freedom”?
In Montessori education, freedom means allowing children to explore and solve problems independently, while seeking guidance as needed.
What is Montessori’s concept of “Discipline”?
Montessori discipline is about developing inner discipline and self-control by working with Montessori materials and support from the home.
Advantages of Mixed-Age Classes:
Mixed-age classes support social interaction across ages and help avoid “holding back” or “rushing” children who develop at different rates.
How do Montessori students adapt to traditional schools?
Montessori students are confident, independent, and adaptable due to their self-guided learning and initiative in class.
Why choose MSA for your child?
MSA offers a structured, nurturing environment that encourages independence, kindness, and a passion for learning. We help children develop cognitive, social, and emotional skills in calm, supportive classrooms, preparing them to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.
Is MSA right for your child?
Our Montessori program fosters a love of learning through play-based, child-led activities. We prioritize social-emotional development and collaborative play.
Montessori vs Traditional Daycare
How is the Montessori Method different from traditional teaching methods?
| Montessori Teaching Method | Traditional Teaching Method |
|---|---|
| Emphasis is on cognitive, social and emotional development | Emphasis is on cognitive development |
| Multi-sensory materials for physical exploration | Few materials for sensory development |
| Environment and method encourage self-discipline | The teacher is primary enforcer of discipline |
| Mixed age grouping | Same age grouping |
| Grouping encourages children to teach and help each other | Most teaching is done by the teacher |
| Teacher has a facilitator role in classroom | Teacher is focus of classroom |
| Mainly individual instruction | Mainly group instruction |
| Child chooses own work, with input from teacher | Set curriculum is structured for the child |
| Child can work where he chooses, move around and talk at will without disturbing the work of others | Child usually assigned own chair |
| Child discovers own concepts from self-teaching materials | Child is guided to concepts by the teacher |
| Child may work at own learning pace | Instruction pace is usually set by group norm |
| Child works as long as he needs on a chosen project | Child is generally allotted specific time for work on a specific project or assignment |
| Child reinforces own learning by repetition of work with internal feelings of success, Learning is its own reward | Learning is reinforced externally by repetition and rewards |
| Materials are self-correcting, child spots own errors from feedback material | If work is corrected, errors usually are pointed out by the teacher |
| Organized program for learning care of self and environment in order to develop independence | Less emphasis on self-care instruction |
| Organized program for parents to understand the Montessori philosophy and participate in the learning process | Voluntary parent involvement |