SPMA FAQs
The following are answers to questions frequently asked of Sea Pines Montessori Academy staff. You’ll find more specific information throughout the SPMA web site, by attending a SPMA Open House or School Tour and by reading our SPMA Blueprint.
GENERAL SPMA QUESTIONS
Q: What are the primary benefits of a Montessori education?
A: The Montessori classroom is a highly organized, enriched environment designed to stimulate the children’s interests and facilitate their understanding and learning. While children learn at their own pace, they do so in a carefully structured manner, guided by a highly skilled teacher using specially developed materials and programs designed for each stage of their mental, physical, social, and emotional development.
Q: How does SPMA instill values?
A: We believe that children learn what they live. At SPMA all the adults are teachers therefore we model respect, courtesy, democracy, and peace with one another. We are individuals who are interested in another person’s point of view and opinion. We believe in freedom within limits and therefore define our expectations of good behavior.
Q: What are the training requirements for SPMA Montessori teachers?
A: As an American Montessori Society affiliated School, SPMA looks to hire college graduates who love children and who are committed to furthering their education and understanding of children. All lead teachers (traditionally called Directresses) have taken extensive Montessori training in the ages of the children that they will be leading.
Q: How is discipline handled?
A: Every disruptive behavior is an opportunity to teach appropriate behavior, values, and social responsibility. The classroom ground rules, the work in the prepared environment, opportunity for movement, the continued respect of the children, teachers and materials, all help produce the “normalized child.” The acquiring of this self-discipline usually displaces most tendencies for disruptive behaviors. Our goal is to help each child work through behavioral challenges in a loving, respectful, but firm way. We have to take into consideration the effect the disruptive behavior has on the classroom environment as a whole.
Q: How is creativity encouraged?
A: Opportunities for all SPMA children to generate new ideas or concepts, or new associations between existing ideas or concepts, are provided throughout the curriculum and after-school programs. We view creativity as an extension of personal uniqueness and encourage children to develop individual creative expressions in all their work.
Q: How many children are in each classroom?
A: Preprimary: 1:6 teacher to student ratio
Primary: 1:15
Lower Elementary: 1:10
Upper Elementary: 1:10
Middle School: 1:10
Q: Does SPMA teach non-English languages?
A: SPMA teaches Spanish to all students in small group lessons. In addition, the Preprimary Program has Spanish and French by immersion in the classroom and the Elementary Programs have Chinese by immersion.
Q: What programs are available for children with learning disabilities?
A: SPMA is not equipped, nor is the staff trained for, children with specific learning disabilities, and/or emotional/psychological problems. For any child to attend SPMA, the school must determine that it is in the child’s best interest and his needs can be met. For everyone’s benefit, the child would need to meet with optimum success in the Montessori classroom in order to continue in this environment. If it is deemed best for the child, a “shadow” may need to accompany the child in the classroom. This person would be hired and paid by the parents. Also, the child would have to be able to work within the framework of what SPMA offers without detracting from what the other children educational experience.
Q: Are visitors allowed in the classrooms?
A: Campus tours are offered of the entire school for prospective families. All visitors must sign in at the front desk, wear a visitor’s badge and be escorted through the halls.
Q: When can I observe my child?
A: Parents may sign up through the front office to observe in any classroom during the designated time. For your comfort, we will escort you to the appropriate classroom. This is to ensure that you will see what you want to observe, for example, the classroom time, as opposed to when the children may be at recess. All observers must must sign in at the front desk and wear a visitor’s badge.
Q: Who oversees or accredits Montessori schools?
A: We are accredited by the International Montessori Council (IMC) and we are affiliated with the American Montessori Society (AMS). More Montessori organizations can be viewed at Links and Resources.
Q: What school-wide security measures are in place?
A: A state-of-the-art video surveillance camera system and secured front door allow the school staff to closely control access into the school. All visitors must receive permission to enter and must sign-in and wear a designated visitor’s badge.
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