A Room of Their Own
by Joe Zibell

For families, this time of year is truly the start of a new cycle. As one of the captions on our cover alludes to: it is a time of transition. It’s during the days of August that we begin shifting our routines; some of us fall back into familiar daily patterns, but when it comes to raising kids, there are always changes. At the very least, there is the change of grade level and a new teacher, but often there is a move to a new school with a new circle of friends to be found.

As we all have a chance for a clean slate, it is a great time of year to investigate education options. You’ll notice that the open house schedule for area schools will begin to fill-in over the next two months, as a sign that planning for your child’s education is a process that takes time and consideration. Along this thread, Montessori schools in Connecticut continue to reach out to families who are looking for an education alternative, which encompasses wonderful ideas of individuality, community, responsibility and caring.

Montessori: A Process of Discovery
by Lauren Piscitelle

Choosing the right school for your child is the first step on what will be an amazing education journey. Parents usually consider the following when selecting a school: the child’s needs and learning styles, the school curricula and philosophy, the classroom environment, the teacher-to-student ratio, the cost and the location. Parents may also consider the specific type of program that the school has to offer. For example, private, public, religious, non-religious, International Baccalaureate or Montessori.

Some readers who might be misinformed or intimidated, might be ready to turn the page because I wrote the word “Montessori.” These readers could be unsure of the term because they have heard the myths about this educational philosophy.

There’s No Place Like Home: Inside the Montessori Classroom
by Joe Zibell

As one spends more time investigating Montessori schools, the more fascinating tenets of the philosophy are unveiled. Connecticut Parent Magazine has presented our readers with an insider’s look at Montessori education for the better part of a decade, and every time, as we’ve talked with different schools in all corners of Connecticut, a new gem is revealed — a story, an anecdote, a particular practice in the classroom. However, there are ties that bind and remain strong among all Montessori schools we’ve come in contact with: the emphasis on having a sense of family and community, and the richness of the classroom environment, just to name a few.