Montessori Assessment

Parents often ask:

How does assessment work with out tests, quizzes, and grades?

Assessment is a constant and ongoing process in our Montessori classrooms. A crucial assessment component to our classrooms, is observation. Through trained observation, guides are able to ascertain if a child has mastered a concept. This includes factors such as knowledge, perseverance, concentration, motivation, self-confidence, and interest. A guides ability to assess each student as an individual contributes to the authentic relationship and experience that promotes the successful academic and social/emotional development of our students.

In Montessori we categorize each lesson as either Presented, Working, Mastered, or Ongoing. Presented: the child has received a lesson on the activity or topic. Working: the child is practicing the skill or practicing using the knowledge. Mastered/Ongoing: the student has demonstrated their understanding of the information and is ready for the next lesson.

Most parents are familiar with a grading system, like A, B, C, D, F that indicates how well a student is preforming in school. In Montessori we only document the work of the child. Montessori students move on when they have demonstrated they comprehend a lesson. The next lesson often builds on previous knowledge. A Montessori curriculum is designed to be integrated and cumulative. As students work their way through the curriculum they continue to practice and use the knowledge they gained from previous lessons.

Control of Error is another type of assessment in our classroom. Control of Error is a term used in Montessori that refers to a material or work that allows the child to self-correct. This type of self-assessment promotes internal motivation and increased ownership of their work. It solidifies for them the importance of ongoing practice and effort over perfection and external praise/rewards.