Frequently Asked Questions

Following are some of the most common questions about our school and about Montessori education. To learn more, we invite you to schedule an observation and tour of our program.

What is unique about a Montessori Education?

Montessori is unique in its core philosophy that recognizes every child’s innate potential and natural tendency toward learning.  Within the Montessori setting, each child is met with respect in an environment created to ensure individual comfort, success and achievement. The Montessori classroom provides a broad range of materials and subjects which stimulate a child’s interest through self-directed activity and the carefully guided support of trained Montessori teachers. As each child develops in independence and self-confidence, a love of learning naturally follows.

What kind of Curriculum is followed in a Montessori classroom?

Our primary teachers are thoroughly trained in an integrated curriculum including but not limited to the subjects of language, math, history, geography, biology, chemistry, geometry, music, movement and artistic expression. Lessons in each subject area are generally broken down to a gradual sequence from concrete to abstract. Academics are introduced through manipulative materials which utilize all five senses and lay the foundation for abstract thinking. Beginning with practical and social skills, children learn to manage themselves and their environment.

The Montessori Elementary curriculum expands this basic foundation of skills and knowledge to address broader philosophical questions and in-depth study of the origins of the universe, the nature of life, different cultures, and the fundamental needs of humans. Specific areas of study include but are not limited to language, math, history, geography, physics, geology, biology, chemistry and natural history. The elementary program is highly individualized and the integrated curriculum is designed to meet the intellectual and developmental needs of children from 6 – 12 years of age.

What is the average Class Size and Composition? Why the Mixed Age groups?

Mixed age groupings in every Montessori classroom create a community of varied skills and needs which allows for healthy individual and social development.  Each age brings a special dimension to our classrooms. Learning occurs between adults and children as well as from child-to-child, with more experienced children sharing knowledge and experience with those newer to the group.

The average size of our Primary and Elementary classrooms is 25 children with two adults (a Montessori guide and an assistant) and a designated support staff person.

Is West Hills Montessori School certified or accredited? What certification do teachers hold?

West Hills is a member of Oregon Independent Schools and is a state recognized private school.
Every West Hills Primary and Elementary Montessori teacher (sometimes called Guides) holds at least a Bachelor’s Degree in addition to a Montessori teaching credential. All West Hills guides are fully trained and certified through the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). Many of our guides also hold Masters Degrees in education.

Why do the three year old students attend school Five Days a Week?

While we understand that it is not easy to send your 3 year-old off to school for the first time, we also know that consistency and routine provide young children a sense of security and order which supports their developing concentration and focus, socialization, and lifelong learning. Therefore, our program is based upon a five-days-per- week, three-year experience at every level. We do offer three half-day classes (9am-12pm) at the primary level only. These shorter days schedules are available at our Lake Oswego campus and Montessori Pathways classes.

What is Practical Life?

The Practical Life area of the Montessori classroom offers the child many and varied ways to explore movement in the context of real life activities. This unique aspect of our curriculum focuses on hands-on, repetitive activities such as washing and polishing, through which the child gains confidence and concentration while learning to manage her own needs and contribute to her community. This area is where we introduce the “work cycle” which leads to focused and self-directed activity, the ability to complete a task, and the inner satisfaction gained from a job well done. The practical life exercises easily draw children into this level of concentration through precise movements and specific purposes which capture and hold the child’s interest.

Why are so many children cleaning/scrubbing/washing in a Montessori classroom?

Many of the washing/scrubbing lessons are designed to teach coordination of movement and to prepare the child’s eye and hand for the left to right sequence necessary for later reading and writing. Likewise, practical life activities such as folding classroom laundry and cleaning up spills teach order and independence, and prepare the child for future success in learning and life. A child who has been able to develop this level of confidence and concentration will be able to move deeper into intellectual work as they move through the Montessori curriculum.

Why does my child need a lesson before he/she can choose an activity?

We want a new lesson to be challenging, but not frustrating for the child. Certain skills need to be in place for the child to be successful. It is the teacher’s responsibility, with a trained eye on the child’s interest and readiness, to determine when the time is right for a new lesson. Maria Montessori called this “following the child.” Within the Montessori curriculum, there is a progression which assumes the child’s relative mastery of one skill or concept through repetition, before moving on to the next.

What is Montessori Pathways program?

In 1984, West Hills Montessori School founded a unique Montessori program to provide young children with special needs the opportunity to successfully blend into a class alongside others not in need of special assistance. Each of two Pathways classes are led by certified Montessori Guides with additional training and credentials in Special Education, supported by experienced assistants. To learn more about our Montessori Pathways program, visit www.montessoripathwaysoregon.com

Is my child required to take a Nap at school? How do you decide who gets to stay up?

According to State of Oregon Child Care Division guidelines, all three and four-year-old children who are enrolled in the 9am–3pm program will participate in the school nap period. A nap is not provided for children in the half day (9am–12pm or 9am–1pm) classes.  As a child approaches their fifth birthday and no longer rests in the nap program, the teacher will assess their ability to sustain independent work in the afternoon hours. Participation in the Extended Day portion of our Montessori classes is based upon age and readiness. Likewise, if a child demonstrates the need for a rest period, the teacher may decide to ask the child to participate in the nap program.

We have two nap rooms, each staffed by at least two adults. One nap room (West Building) is for those children who need to sleep each day. The actual rest time is from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Our second nap room (East Building) is a Transition Program for those children who no longer need to sleep, but who are not yet ready to join the extended day portion of the Montessori class, which traditionally occurs around age five. In the transition nap room, a quiet rest time begins at 1:15, stories are read and music is played, and around 1:45 the children are invited to engage in quiet activities such as table games, reading books, art projects, and puzzles.

What does “Process” vs. “Product” oriented mean in a Montessori setting?

“Process-oriented” is a phrase used to describe learning that is derived from the child’s activity and repetition, and without concern for a specific outcome or product. As Montessori educators we understand that a child must grasp first the concrete concept before he is able to make an abstraction. Therefore, the youngest members of our primary classroom communities will experience their learning environment first through long periods of concrete sensorial exploration, and only much later will they transfer this knowledge into a written form. By allowing a child’s naturally inquisitive mind to delve deep in its exploration, the child gains confidence and a strong understanding of concepts.

Are there “Arts & Crafts” activities in the Montessori classroom?

In the Montessori program, arts and crafts are viewed as an important means of personal expression and discovery and we accept a child’s artwork as a part of his/her own developmental effort… the process being more important than the product. Primary children are introduced to media and tools such as crayons, Cray-Pas, pastels, chalk, charcoal, paint and clay. These varied media help them discover unique qualities of color, line, form and texture. Over time they will master cutting with scissors and tearing to create their own shapes, shapes that are often combined with a variety of materials for collage work. Other techniques such as stenciling, rubbing, spatter painting, finger painting, etching, and resist are introduced as well.  As the children become comfortable with the basic expression (art) exercises they are invited to combine these skills with a particular interest. Our school also participates in the “Arts in Education” program where a particular artist comes into the school for a week of total immersion into a specific form of art, dance, music, poetry, etc.

Does West Hills offer any special classes or after school Enrichment Opportunities?

Every classroom has integrated some basic Spanish into the regular language curriculum. For those who want additional instruction, we offer after school Spanish classes at our Vermont Street and Lake Oswego campuses, for children age 4 and older.  We also offer piano and fiddle lessons for elementary age children, as well as Chess club.

Why is it important for my child to complete a full 3-year Cycle in the Montessori class?

While a child may gain much from attending a Montessori classroom for any length of time, full benefits are gained over a 3-year cycle in which the social structure includes a mixed age grouping of children at various levels and abilities and in which continuity and peer teaching is present. For the child, the third year in a Montessori classroom is the culmination of all the previous years. The third year is typically the time when reading skills come together, as do advanced math and language skills. Socially, the third year child is among the oldest in their group and they are the role models for the class. In this leadership role, they gain confidence through using their skills, expertise, and knowledge to their potential. Moreover, children who attend the extended day classes receive additional in depth and small group study in cultural, science and art extensions. The third year in a Montessori class is the culmination of many experiences which prepare the child for the next school, and for life.

Does West Hills School enroll beginning five year students?

Yes. Every year in a school this size we lose some students unexpectedly (moving, illness, transfer, etc.). Some of these students are five-year-olds. Montessori classes are “age-blended” and each primary class is comprised of children between the ages of 3 and 6 years.  Most of our 5 and 6 years olds students have been with us between one and three years and have established social (classroom) relationships as well as experience working with the Montessori materials.  Therefore, applications for new 5 year old students are processed with special care and consideration and can include teacher recommendations and observations by West Hills staff. Our experience has been that each year we enroll a few new five-year-old students with great success.

What kinds of activities are offered during Morning and Afternoon Care at West Hills?

The before and after care program at West Hills provides plenty of time for free play, while allowing the children to continue to practice the grace and courtesy, practical life, art and expression lessons they have learned in their Montessori classrooms. We offer arts and crafts projects, creative play, and a snack every afternoon. Morning care opens at 7:15am and Aftercare closes at 6:00pm.

How do Montessori children make the transition to First Grade in a public or private school?

Although parents and children will notice the differences between schools, the self-motivation, self-discipline and love of learning which children take away from their Montessori experience generally prepares them well for their next school environment. The social cohesion of a Montessori classroom provides a strong base for integration into a new group and for establishing new friendships. In order to facilitate a smooth and successful transition, West Hills’ staff provides a detailed evaluation for each student graduating from our program, which highlights the child’s school experience, academic skills, and individual learning style.