Chesapeake Montessori School

We have been thrilled with our experience at CMS. The administration and faculty are always available to answer questions and work with you and your child. The environment is very peaceful and conducive to learning. Be mindful that this is a Montessori school and NOT a traditional preschool or day care center. The children are treated as individuals and learn as individuals. It is a very safe and clean school and our children have loved attending.

Be aware!! This environment is not suited to all children or to all families. We could live with the cloth napkins required for lunch but there are many aspects we feel are vital to development that are missing. There are no activities to foster imaginative play or free exploration. There is no housekeeping corner, no dress up center, no sand table, no water table, no block center. The structure of the program is to the extreme.

Children have choice in their activities; however, the activities are extremely regimented and structured. You may use an activity but only following the highly specific instructions. For example, you may use blocks but only to sort by size. You may not build a tower or wall.

Communication is a serious problem. On a day to day basis, you will have no idea what your child is working or what skills they are mastering. There are no written notes sent home at the end of the week describing the books they read, or the songs they sing, or how your child's day is going. Unless you initiate communication, there is none.

Children here develop skills and are high achieving. However, at what cost. OBSERVE and decide for yourself. BE CONCERNED