Vancouver Montessori School Parent Handbook: Observing Your Child's Classroom

Observing Your Child's Classroom

Parents are most welcome to visit the school and observe their child at work in the classroom. Please schedule an appointment with the office after the first 6 weeks of school, or when the children have made their initial adaptation to the daily routine of class. Please plan to arrive close to 9:00 a.m.

It has been our experience that children function more naturally if they are not informed ahead of time that a parent is coming to observe. Please follow your normal morning procedure; arriving in the office after you have said good-bye and your child has entered the classroom.
You may or may not observe a normal day of activity for your child. It is difficult for some children to manage their emotional attachment to you and sustain their independence in the classroom simultaneously.
Please do not discuss your observations of children not your own away from the school.
Please stay one-half to three-quarters of an hour.
Please observe activities of the entire classroom.
Enjoy your visit and make an appointment to discuss your observation with your classroom guide.
If you discuss your visit with your child, please do so on a positive note. You might make comments on activities you observed such as:

"I noticed you chose work all by yourself."
"I saw you tie Jenny's apron for her."
"You put your work away when you finished."
"You worked a long time on..."
"You said 'Excuse Me' to Jimmy when you needed to pass him."
"You sponged your table when you finished snack."

Come and visit us again, please!