Q. How old does my child need to be to do My Works Lessons?

A. There are infant/toddler Montessori classrooms offered at some schools. So this philosophy can be applied from the very beginning of life. Our My Works lessons are designed for the second phase of learning – from ages 3 to 6 years of age. We have defined this age group as 2.5 to 6 because of the success pre-three’s can obtain from our beginning lessons.

Q. Does my child need to attend a Montessori School to do My Works Lessons?

A. No. Attending a Montessori school is ideal, but not necessary. This is a learning philosophy and style that benefits children who are home schooled, attend traditional preschool settings, stay at home with Mom or Dad, or attend a Montessori school.

Q. How will My Works Lessons benefit a child who already attends a Montessori School?

A. The valuable education your child receives at a Montessori school can be enhanced by continuing the process at home. Many parents use to comment to us that when their children get home they do not do what we tell them they are able to do in a classroom. The reason is simple – because many parents have not yet learned how to easily implement the lessons at home. My Works is here to help complete that circle of learning.

Q. Do I need to purchase special materials to do My Works Lessons?

A. In as many cases as possible we show you how to use materials you already have at home, or are easily found at your local stores. There are specific materials important to the Montessori curriculum such as the pink tower. The pink tower is designed in increments of 1 to 10 cm, is a classroom staple for learning sizing, dimension, and grading, and is used in advanced math lessons.

Q. Which My Works Lessons are beginner, intermediate and advanced?

A. We have ordered the lessons much like we ordered our classrooms – from beginning to more advanced. They are graded top to bottom, with top being the foundation lessons and becoming more challenging as you go down the list. The reason is that specific skills are taught in the beginning as a foundation for success with the more challenging lessons. Success with the initial lessons propels your child toward confidence and eagerness in moving forward with the next level.

Q. I'm having difficulties viewing the video lessons, what do I do?

A. Before you become a member of My Works, make sure you are able to view the frequently asked questions video segments on our home pages. After becoming a member should you have problems viewing the lessons please be sure to give the video a moment to load prior to playing. If you are still having problems please send an email to: support@myworksmontessori.com describing the issues you have encountered. A My Works Montessori representative will respond to you within 24 hours.

Q. How do I cancel?

A. We would greatly miss you! If you must cancel, click on the "My Account" button. On the "My Account" page enter your username, password and click login. The box located under "Your Payment History" click on the "Cancel" link and follow the instruction to cancel payment from your PayPal Payment Account.

Q. Where did Montessori come from?

A. Montessori education was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in 1907. Dr. Montessori was one of the first female physicians in Italy. Her educational methods were based on scientific observation of children's learning processes. Base on observation she discovered that children teach themselves, Dr. Montessori designed a "prepared environment" in which children could freely choose from a number of developmentally appropriate activities. It has been over a century since Maria Montessori's first casa dei bambini ("children's house") in Rome was established.Montessori education is now found all over the world, spanning ages from birth to those in secondary schools. There are both private and public schools all over the United States and world that follow the Montessori Method of education.

Q. What is the difference between Montessori and traditional education?

A. The Montessori Method creates an environment of active learning, utilizing the childs' senses of sight, touch, hearing, smelling and tasting.  Children in Montessori classrooms learn at their own, individual pace and according to their own choice of activities from hundreds of possibilities.Learning is an exciting process of discovery which motivates the children, encourages independence and creates a love of learning. Montessori classrooms place children in three-year age groups (3-6, 6-9, 9-12), forming communities in which the older children help to teach and mentor the younger ones.  Older children are both encouraged and allowed the opportunity to be leaders and build self-confidence.  Younger children watch and observe what the older ones are learning and look forward to what lies ahead academically.  These methods are unique to Montessori and represent an entirely different approach to education.

Q. Are Montessori children when they transition to public schools?

A. Research studies show that Montessori children are well prepared for later life academically, socially, and emotionally. In addition to scoring well on standardized tests, Montessori children are ranked above average on such criteria as following directions, turning in work on time, listening attentively, using basic skills, showing responsibility, asking provocative questions, showing enthusiasm for learning, and adapting to new situations.

Q. Who accredits or oversees Montessori schools?

A. There is no way to limit the use of the name "Montessori" and any school can use this name – even if none of their teachers are trained or certified by an accredited program. Parents must carefully research, and observe a classroom in operation, in order to find an accredited and certified Montessori school for their child.

There are several Montessori organizations to which schools can belong. The two major ones operating in the United States are the Association Montessori International (AMI, with a U.S. branch office called AMI-USA) and the American Montessori Society (AMS). Parents considering placing a child in a Montessori school should ask about the school's affiliation(s).

My Works employs only fully accredited and certified AMS Head Montessori teachers in our videos and lessons.

Q. Are all Montessori schools private?

A. No. Montessori programs are offered in approximately 200 public schools throughout the U.S. and Canada, and this number is growing every year.

Q. What special training do Montessori teachers have?

A. Similar to the decision of finding the right, Montessori school for your child, anyone interested in becoming a Montessori teacher must also be careful in choosing a teacher training course.Anyone can legally use the name "Montessori" in describing their teacher training organization. The two major organizations offering certified Montessori training in the United States are the Association Montessori International (AMI, with a U.S. branch office called AMI-USA) and the American Montessori Society (AMS). Most training centers require a bachelor's degree for admission. Training ranges from 200 to 600 pre-service contact hours and cover principles of child development and Montessori philosophy as well as specific uses of the Montessori classroom materials. Montessori training centers can be found across North America and around the world.

My Works teachers are fully certified and accredited AMS Head Directors.

Q. What materials are used?

A. It is the philosophy and the knowledge of the teacher that is essential in the success of a Montessori class.
One must be cautious of the use of the words "Montessori materials" as many people today use the words as a selling point for materials that have no use in the Montessori classroom and can be distracting and impede a child's progress.
The "sensorial," math, and some of the language and cultural materials (metal insets, sandpaper letters, puzzle maps, bells, for example) are professionally manufactured according to traditional standards that have been tested over many years. However even some of these are made by newer companies that do not fully understand the reason for certain details and so produce materials that are not as successful. There is a "materials committee" in Holland that oversees the quality of materials use in AMI (Association Montessori International) school, for example.
Montessori, for very good reasons, make many of their own practical life and language material instead of buying them—as they learn to do in their training, depending on where in the world they live. They gather practical life materials piece by piece. This is an important process that gives a unique quality to each classroom that expresses the culture, and ideas of beauty in each community—instead of all classrooms looking alike with no personal touches.
Materials in the classroom, without being used correctly by a trained teacher, are usually worthless in creating a real Montessori class, but they can help in some ways in non-Montessori situations. For example the math materials have been used to teach a concept by using their senses thus helping a child to make the abstraction. Educational materials in the Montessori method serve a very different purpose than in traditional education where the text books are ordered and the teacher learns how to use them. This difference is because in Montessori the child learns from the environment, and it is the teacher's job to put the child in touch with the environment, not to "teach" the child. Thus the creation of the environment, and selection of materials is done mostly by the teacher and is very important.