Maryland Avenue Montessori School

MPS- Stacked-Logo (414) 906-4800
268@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
2418 N. Maryland Ave.
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You are here: Home / Montessori / Why Montessori?

Why Montessori?

Why would you want to put your child in a Montessori school?

Children want to learn, and are drawn to learn different things at different stages of development.  The young child from birth through age six wants to learn the facts: the names and functions of objects and how to do tasks.  The child from six to twelve wants to know about relationships.  A child needs help in making sense out of all the aspects of the world.

Providing that help is the basis of the Montessori method of education. Maria Montessori, an Italian Physician, was frustrated by the rigid way schools educated children in the early 1900s.  She observed that before age six, children have an “absorbent mind” that gives them the ability to take in and remember details of their environment, from daily routines, to the names of objects, to what people like and dislike.  Children from six to twelve have a “reasoning mind” and seek to learn about cause and effect as well as how people relate to each other.  Children need to organize and classify this information.  Dr. Montessori believed adults could best help children do this by creating a “prepared environment” that offers both structure and freedom.  The structure comes from the order of the classroom and knowing how and why to use different materials.  The freedom comes from the children’s ability to choose their own tasks, work at their own pace, and move ahead as the desire to know something more and something different becomes important.

How are the classrooms set up?

Montessori classrooms for children ages 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, and 12-14 are self-contained and multi-age leveled.  Children usually stay with the same teacher for three years.  The older children in each level help the younger ones while reinforcing their own learning and developing leadership skills.

The 3-6 classes have an extended morning session for K-3 and K-4 students lasting for three and a half hours each morning.  The K-5 students stay all day.

Elementary classrooms extend beyond the immediate room.  The school library is an important resource where students do independent research.  Older children and adolescents leave the building frequently with adult supervision, to extend their research by consulting with sources in the community.

How does it work at MPS?

The Milwaukee Public School system has seven public Montessori Schools: Maryland Avenue Montessori School (K3-8), Craig Montessori (K3-8), Fernwood Montessori (K3-8), Bay View Montessori (upper and lower),  Lloyd Barbee Montessori (K3-6), Riley Dual Language Montessori (K3- slow growing) and MacDowell Montessori (K3-12).  This is one of the largest groups of public Montessori schools in the United States.  A longitudinal study was recently completed which found that Montessori education has a positive long-term impact on students’ grade point averages, and Montessori students are successful as they enter traditional schools (Association Montessori International-USA).

What is a “Montessori child” like?

Montessori children are unusually adaptable, having learned to work independently and in groups.  They have been trusted to make decisions about their education, and become very self-reliant and able to manage their time well.  The Montessori child develops good communication skills and problem-solving ability because s/he has been encouraged to exchange ideas freely with others.  The self-confidence gained from a Montessori education is truly priceless.

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Maryland Avenue Montessori Updates

Summer E, 6/29/2022

MPS provides free summer meals for children

Camp MAM Staff NEEDED!!

Weekly E, End of the year 2021-22

Weekly E, 06/09/2022

More Updates >>>

Upcoming Events

Aug
27
Sat
10:00 am Forms and Photos Day 2022
Forms and Photos Day 2022
Aug 27 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Saturday, August 27th is Forms and Photos Day at MAM 10am-2pm Drop by MAM when it best works for your family to file back to school paperwork and have SCHOOL PHOTOS taken! Package and payment[...]
Sep
2
Fri
8:30 am New K3/K4/K5 Orientation Day
New K3/K4/K5 Orientation Day
Sep 2 @ 8:30 am – 9:30 am
Join Mr. DiCarlo for a one hour orientation for K3/K4/K5 families prior to the phase in days of school. K3/K4/K5 children should accompany parents/guardians for this opportunity to meet the teachers and have some time[...]
10:00 pm New 1st grade & up Orientation
New 1st grade & up Orientation
Sep 2 @ 10:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Caregivers and students NEW to MAM in 1st grade and up should plan to join Mr. DiCarlo for this one hour orientation session at MAM. Students will be able to meet their teachers and visit[...]
Sep
22
Thu
all-day School Photo Day at MAM
School Photo Day at MAM
Sep 22 all-day
Check back for ordering information 🙂
Oct
27
Thu
all-day Make Up Day for School Photos
Make Up Day for School Photos
Oct 27 all-day
Package and payment envelopes will be available at the school as well as our school code for online photo payment. Check back for those details.

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Email address
Contact Maryland Avenue Montessori School
(414) 906-4800
268@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
2418 N. Maryland Ave.

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Milwaukee Public Schools
5225 W. Vliet Street
Milwaukee, WI 53208
Switchboard: (414) 475-8393

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