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Walking into an Alcuin Junior Elementary classroom, one is immediately struck by two things:  there is a busy hum of activity, and the children are engaged and happy.

As children move through age six, they enter the second plane of development in which imagination and reasoning are used to gain knowledge and information.  The Junior Elementary program gives these abilities priority in the child’s learning process, fostering an interest in facts and factual relationships. According to Dr. Maria Montessori, this is the time to sow the seeds of culture. 
 
​“What I think is special is all the kids are so kind, all the good lessons are so cool, all the people are so nice, and all the peace.”

“What I like about Junior Elementary is that I get to do handwriting and Spanish and landforms and small bead frame!”

 “I like Junior Elementary because we get to cook, use the microscope, and do experiments. We get to grow crystals and go on field trips. We get to have school pets and great lessons.”

The above quotes are from Alcuin first, second, and third-grade members of our Junior Elementary program. 

Alcuin’s Junior Elementary teachers make sure the children’s academic work is balanced but also empower them to make their own choices. The children are taught independence and how to manage their time. They manage their daily goals and their week’s worth of work. They are positively challenged academically, socially, and emotionally.

In addition to a strong academic curriculum, the children's social skills are enhanced through an emphasis on independent learning, cooperative group relationships and personal responsibility. A sense of respect and collaboration creates a social community that encourages cooperation rather than competition. The children work collaboratively, showing that they can work well with peers and enjoy their time in the classroom. They are learning and having fun in the process. Self-discipline, independent work habits, and self-direction are required of the children in these classes. 
 
Junior Elementary teacher, Nicole Cochrane, states, “I love in Junior Elementary that we are teaching them how to maneuver the difficulty of socializing. At 6-9 years old the children are learning how to socialize, they care what others think of them, and they have a strong sense of justice. The teachers guide the children in standing up for what they believe but in a peaceful and respectful manner. When social mistakes are made, we teach the children how to request a peace talk and let someone know they are upset. We also teach the children how to give meaningful apologies and reflect on their behavior.”

The Junior Elementary children also benefit from the strong peace curriculum offered. At Alcuin, there isn’t just one unit on peace. It is interwoven into everything the children do and equally as important as learning to read, write, or solve math equations. The children are taught how to be the best they can be, how to act and react in difficult situations, how to be a good friend and classmate, and how to have respect for themselves, for others, and for the environment. 

​Resourcefulness, problem-solving, self-advocacy, compromise, listening skills, executive functioning, conflict resolution – the children in our Junior Elementary program are fortunate that along with great academic preparation, they are also given the skills they will need throughout their lives from childhood to adulthood.  

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At some point in your child's life, whether they were two or even 11, you knew self-directed, hands-on learning and collaborative play were non-negotiable factors in picking their school. So, you opted for a Montessori program, which was developed with those principles in mind. However, as you began your search in the Oak Park River Forest area, you soon noticed that Montessori schools are popular educational choices, and therefore, they exist in great number.
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"What sets a Montessori curriculum apart is the emphasis on the social and emotional growth of the student in tandem with their academic learning," explains Gina Gleason, head of Alcuin Montessori in Oak Park. "From birth through middle school, we inspire a lifelong curiosity about learning, while nurturing each child's individual strengths, challenging them to reach their fullest potential."
With a number of Montessori schools in the Oak Park River Forest area, it is important to research and visit as many as possible to gain a very clear understanding of what school is the best fit for your child.

Alejandra Valera, head of admissions for Alcuin Montessori, shares these tips for finding the best Montessori school suited for your child's unique needs.

1. What does the classroom's appearance say? 
If a picture is worth a thousand words, seeing a true Montessori classroom in action is worth volumes. It's one thing to read about a school online, but visiting a school in person will help you get a sense of what your child will experience on a daily basis.
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A few tips to prepare for your visit:

• Tour the school and go inside the classrooms, preferably when the children are there so that you can get a feel for the environment and the energy of the children.
• How do teachers interact with children?
• What's the quality of the Montessori materials, the care given to the environment, and the beauty and simplicity of the classrooms?
• Talk to the teachers and other parents. 
• Ask if you will be allowed to observe the classrooms throughout the year when your child is enrolled.

2. How authentic is the Montessori program? 
The term "Montessori" isn't trademarked, therefore, any program can call itself Montessori without being a true Montessori school. To be sure you are choosing an authentic program, explore the school's website and ask questions during the tour, such as:

• What accrediting bodies oversee the school? A well-established, authentic Montessori school will be recognized by either the American Montessori Society (AMS) or the Association Montessori International (AMI). Some, like Alcuin, even take it a step further and undertake a more additional rigorous accreditation process by AMS or AMI, as well as by organizations like the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS). 
• Are the teachers all fully credentialed/certified Montessori teachers? What are the qualifications for someone to teach at the school? While you can learn a lot about Montessori philosophy from books, it takes years of practice and mentorships for teachers to truly master this method of child-centered education. Each classroom should be led by an experienced Montessori teacher.
• What type of professional development opportunities are offered to the staff? 
  Like their students, Montessori teachers love to learn. A quality school provides support for ongoing professional development opportunities to help their staff stay at the top of their game, making their school a better place for their students.

3. Is the school safe?
In addition to being loved and nurtured, we all want our kids to be safe. During your tour, find out: 

• What types of safety procedures and protocols are in place?
• How often are they reviewed and updated?
• Who oversees the process?

4. What is the community like?
To get a sense of the school's culture, ask questions like:

• How would you describe the school community?
• What level of involvement do you expect and allow from parents? 
• How do the teachers communicate with me about my child's development? 
• Am I allowed and encouraged to build a relationship with my child's teacher/school? 
• What type of parent education and volunteer opportunities are available?
•  If the faculty and staff have children, do (or did) they attend the school? 
• Can you put me in touch with other parents at the school to get a sense of the community from an insider's perspective?

5. What type of enrichment or after-school activities are offered?
Reading, writing, and arithmetic aren't the only things a child should learn - exposure to new ideas and experiences help children become well-rounded individuals.

Ask how the following are integrated into the curriculum and whether extracurricular opportunities exist: 

• Culture and foreign language
• Physical activity
• Theater 
• Music
• Art
• Philanthropy
• Peace education
• Problem-solving
• Field trips and other activities outside of school
• Before- and after-school care (whether hourly as-needed or flat fee)
• Parent education

6. What is the admissions process like?
The admission process itself is a great indicator of how the school itself is run. Throughout the process, ask yourself:

• Are my interactions with the admissions staff and administration thorough, professional, timely, and supportive? 
• Does the admissions process seem organized and efficient?
• Is the information on the website comprehensive?

7. Can you envision your child here?
This is the most important question of all. Follow your instinct in making a decision about what school is best for your child and your family. Can you picture your child in these classrooms? Is the faculty and staff warm, welcoming, and professional in their pursuit of Montessori excellence? Can you picture yourself and your family as a valued part of this community?
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Alcuin Montessori School in Oak Park, now in its 56th year in serving Oak Park, the western suburbs and Chicago, is hosting open enrollment for children ages 0-14. For questions, insights from Alcuin alumni, students or parents or for a guided tour, contact Alejandra Valera, Director of Admissions, at avalera@alcuin.org or 708-366-1882, and visit Alcuin.org.

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Adolescence is an age of rapid growth, emotional development, and the transformation of the child into an adult member of society. At this critical age, adolescents need more guidance as they develop key communication skills and a more mature and complex understanding of social interactions. They need creative and physical outlets, especially for processing complex emotional and psychological issues.  They crave personal space, but they are also highly social!  They still need to move on a regular basis, and being physically engaged in work that produces tangible results is rewarding to them.
 
The Middle School program at Alcuin Montessori School is designed to meet the very specific needs of children from 12 – 14 years of age and to support their families through this unique time in their development.
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The program incorporates both traditional Montessori philosophy and current “best practices” for middle school education.  The program emphasizes independent, project-based and student-driven work.  Students are encouraged to do high-level critical thinking and to consider themes and issues across all areas of the curriculum.  Daily and weekly homework is given in addition to student-managed long-term projects with the goal of having students engaged in 1 – 1.5 hours of homework a night. Students are introduced to formal lectures along with interactive presentations, dynamic activities, student-led research, group projects and more.  Students are given quizzes and tests, as well as alternative forms of assessment and informal observation.

The program also includes weekly enrichment programs in art, theater and physical education led by child-focused specialists.  They engage the students in learning about and through all areas of life (not just textbooks) by incorporating real-world applications of studied concepts.  They discuss current events and their implications on all spheres of life and they contribute to our school and local communities through volunteering and service projects.  The students take weekly trips into the Oak Park and Chicagoland area to facilitate curriculum enhancement, community engagement, and authentic orienteering and practical life experiences.
 
Our curriculum has been carefully designed to meet or exceed state standards in all fundamental areas of study, as well as to align with the benchmark outcomes of local public schools, ensuring full preparation for a smooth transition into high school. Our units of study are theme-based and center around several essential questions.  The curriculum includes mathematics, the sciences, social studies, literature, humanities, writing, Spanish and more.
 
Alcuin Montessori’s teaching staff is fully committed to mentoring and coaching students through a sometimes complicated and confusing time in their lives.  They facilitate appropriate, effective communication and problem-solving skills through one-on-one, small group, and large group interactions.  Additionally, they support students in balancing their school and home lives, helping to plan homework around family time and extracurricular activities. 
 
With a clear understanding of the emotional, social, and academic needs of this formative developmental stage, Alcuin Montessori’s program is specifically designed to guide and nurture students as they transition into high school and their teenage years. ​