Testimonials

My son, Jack, is 6 and in first grade. My other son, Ben, 22 months, is in the toddler room.

Our journey to The Montessori School began when Jack was 4 and I began looking for a pre-school where he would be allowed to work at his own pace. He was an intense, shy child who could read fluently at 3 and did math “for fun” at 4. His favorite toy was a calculator. But most of the pre-schools I called said they would work on “the letter of the day” and teach shape and color recognition. When I asked how they might incorporate a child who was beyond that work—without making him feel that he was too different—no one had an answer until I called Montessori. There, I was told, Jack could work at his own pace, study the things that interested him, and do the work the older children were doing if it suited him.

It did suit him. After that first anxious week, Jack absolutely bloomed. He was encouraged to do challenging work that interested him, and because he was in a mixed-age classroom, he enjoyed helping the younger children with their lessons as well as tackling the work the older children were doing. Most importantly, he was allowed to stay at his work as long as it suited him. In other programs I investigated, the children rotated between activities every 10 or 15 minutes. Jack is just getting warmed up at 10 or 15 minutes. He was allowed to work as long as he wished on his lessons, and he loved it.

When the time came to decide where to send him for grade school, I could not imagine Jack anywhere but Montessori.

With Ben, the challenge was far different. This little boy is very social, active and outgoing. He is also an intense worker, but has a much more physical, exuberant nature than his big brother. I wondered if Montessori might not be as good a fit for my younger son. I needn’t have worried.

The lessons in the infant room are so engaging and fun that Ben feels he is playing even as he is learning. He has learned to put things away, clean up after himself and ask for help when he needs it. His manners are developing beautifully, and the confidence he has gained in just a few months at school is wonderful to see. Ben loves playtime, but he also has shown a real love for learning and lessons that I didn’t suspect he had until I saw him at work in the classroom. He looks forward every day to going to school, and gets mad on the weekends when he realizes we aren’t going to get in the car. (It makes for rough Saturday mornings).

I will soon return to work after several years at home. It is a profound source of comfort to know that my boys will be at The Montessori School when they aren’t with me.

Mary Fortune

Our family has been attending The Montessori School since 1995. Our sons are happy and self confident, and as an added bonus they're also very smart! The one thing that stands out in my mind the most is that when we come to pick them up at the end of the day, when they've been there since early morning, they don't want to leave! The warm environment cretaed by the staff, and the consistent caring provided daily, has given our children a place to grow and flourish. We firmly believe in the methods of Dr. Montessori developed all those years ago, and the excellent staff at The Montessori School has created a bond that none of us want to break. We wish there was a high school so we could continue receiving superior education and loving friendships.

Tammy and Rich Branning

"I have a three year old who enjoys cleaning her room!"

When my daughter Lyra was two, I had to return to work. It was difficult for me to be away from her and the only thing that made the transition easier was the fact that she was at The Montessori School.

The Monessori School is a very special place that has many unique qualities that set it above traditional schools or day cares. I could go on and on listing all the things that make The Montessori School special, but since Lyra wants me to play, I'll focus on two things that have made the biggest impact in our lives since Lyra started Montessori.

At The Montessori School, students are taught life skills that are brought into the home. Lyra is excited to help cook meals, help wash clothes, work in the garden, and clean her room. She is very independent and enjoys being a helper and takes pride in how she contributes to our household. I credit most of this to the lessons she receives at school.

Another thing that makes The Montessori School special is that courtesy and grace are modeled by the staff and learned by the students. Treating others with respect, saying "please" and "thank you," and learning how to be patient are behaviors that Lyra has developed during her year at Montessori. At her young age, Lyra already exhibits self control that is not often seen in three-year olds who have not been in Montessori.

Although I hate being away from Lyra, I have a peace of mind knowing that she is at a place where she is cared for, safe, and so happy that she often doesn't want to leave when I come to take her home. I am confident that Lyra is developing into a confident, respectful, and self-directed learner because of her experiences at The Montessori School. I am so grateful that such a wonderful school is available for parents who want more that just an environment that focuses only on academic learning. At The Montessori School, the focus is on the whole child and the evidence of this is obvious in all aspects of our lives.

Catherine Pala

We are in the process of moving to Riverview, Florida (near Tampa) and began the search to find an equivalent Montessori school for our two kindergartners. We looked at 5 schools within a 25-mile radius from my husband's new work. To our dismay, we haven't located a similar setting yet. The first school we looked at went to the 6th grade; had only one class of each age group; cost $200.00 per month more; required a $3,000.00 commitment deposit; and really only wanted children who had started Montessori at age 3 (ours started at 4).

Another school claimed to be Montessori, but the children were grouped by single grades. There was a lot of paper and pencil work, and the manipulatives were not so obvious. Also, they were located across the street from a hazardous waste collection site. Another school was a wonderful combination of Montessori and farm animals, but the school itself was in a renovated dairy farm building. We could smell strong perfume and when we went to the lower level, we could smell mold.

We did find a small, high quality, 3-6 Montessori school which will work very well for our twins. But, we will surely miss the extended school and will still have to find a solution for 1st grade - just 10 months away.

In non of the schools, did we find such wonderful playgrounds or a gym. We will miss The Montessori School of Chattanooga for many reasons. We received such a warm welcome from Carol Lumpkin, Admissions Director, as she guided us through the process. We feel the school is well organized from the moment we drop the kids off to the time we share the contents of their backpacks. Teachers and staff are caring and dedicated. We were also impressed with the extra curricular activities offered our children. And, last of all, our twins love school and love to learn in the environment that has been created for them.

A big thank you for The Montessori School you have created. It truly is exceptional!

Mary Helen Albrecht