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Montessori schools in Burlington-Hamilton

Find the top Montessori schools and programs in Burlington-Hamilton.

On this page, we cover private schools in the Burlington-Hamilton area that offer Montessori programs and support. This includes Montessori schools in Hamilton, Burlington, Ancaster, Dundas, Crown Point East and West, Gibson, Roseland, and Millcroft.

For a more complete guide to Montessori education, including a discussion of classroom policies and teaching approaches, start with our introductory guide.

2. Choosing a school

For general advice on how to choose and evaluate private schools, check out our choosing a school guide and advice from top education experts. For advice on choosing Montessori schools, see our main Montessori school guide and our Montessori choosing guide. You can also read our guides to questions to ask private schools and questions students get asked at school interviews.

Private school expos

Private school expos are a great starting point for finding a school, at any level. We have annual private school expos in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, and Halton-peel. These expos allow you to speak with lots of private schools in Canada, many of which are Montessori schools, all in one place. Find a Montessori school near you.

Parent discussion forum

Another great resource in your school search is the Our Kids parent discussion forum. The forum is an ideal place to discuss options and debate topics related to Montessori schools and preschools. Our community of parents, educational experts, school officials, and alumni can help answer your questions and stimulate your thinking.

Open house events

Attending open houses is a great way to learn more about schools. For general advice on open house visits, check out our guide on school visits.

3. Tuition at Burlington-Hamilton Montessori sch

The cost of Montessori schools in Burlington-Hamilton tends to be lower than the cost of other private schools in Burlington-Hamilton. In fact, Montessori schools are usually on the lower side of private school tuition in general.

Many schools offer needs-based financial aid, such as bursaries or tuition relief. Other schools, though not as many, offer scholarships, which are given based on merit—for instance, in academics or athletics. You can learn more about need- and merit-based financial aid in our dedicated guide. You can also read our guide to preschool costs in particular.

Below, you’ll find the range of costs for Montessori private schools and preschools in Burlington-Hamilton:

Academics

Special needs support

Montessori schools, in Burlington-Hamilton and other cities, often have large mixed-age classes with high teacher-to-student ratios. They also tend to have lots of interaction, student-to-student teaching, and group and independent work. Below, the Montessori philosophy and teaching approach is discussed in more detail.

For more comprehensive coverage, see our main Montessori school guide.

Montessori philosophy

The Montessori philosophy of education is unique. Some of the main principles of this philosophy are the following:

Student-centred: There is no set curriculum. Students are free to move around the class, choose their own work, and determine the pace of their studies. This can make for a dynamic learning environment. Kids often choose work that’s engaging and stimulating, in this setting, which can give rise to a love of learning.

Uninterrupted work time: Montessori schools give kids lots of uninterrupted work time, especially at the elementary level. In many schools, they’re given at least one 3-hour, uninterrupted work period to focus on their chosen work, free of interruptions. Uninterrupted work periods are believed to improve children’s concentration, self-discipline, and work habits.

Concrete learning: Learning tends to be concrete and hands-on. At the primary and elementary level (and sometimes at the secondary level), kids work with lots of different concrete materials, including “manipulatives”—or self-correcting puzzles.

Montessori kids also work with blocks, rods, spindle boxes, and many other materials. Concrete learning engages many of the senses. And, research has shown that it can speed up learning, especially for younger kids.

No external rewards: In primary and elementary school, kids aren’t given tests or assignments, or graded on any of their work. Kids also aren’t praised very much, and when they are praised, it’s for effort—not outcome. Progress is assessed informally, through observation and developmental rubrics, rather than formally, through grades or report cards.

Montessori teaching approach

Montessori teachers rarely provide direct instruction. They almost never stand at the front of the class and lecture to all the students. And when they do lecture, the lectures are usually short, interactive, and engaging.

More often, though, teachers move around the class, and give lessons to or guide students. They usually work with students one-on-one or in small groups. They often encourage students to repeat and practice activities, and they plan projects to meet each student’s learning needs. Their primary role is to connect students with their work, rather than to impart knowledge to them. Teachers are thus viewed more as “guides” or “mentors” than “teachers” in the traditional sense.

Montessori schools, in Burlington-Hamilton and other cities, have mixed-age classes, with kids aged 0-3 (toddler), 3-6 (primary), 6-9 (lower-elementary), 9-12 (upper elementary), and so on. The mixed-age classroom informs the teaching approach and learning environment.

Most Montessori classes have lots of group work. Kids work together in small groups on projects and tasks, with some guidance from the teacher. Kids help each other, and older kids often mentor their younger classmates, by helping with them with their work and modelling appropriate behaviour. This can reinforce knowledge and skills learned in the classroom, for both older and younger kids.

Montessori schools in Burlington-Hamilton

Montessori schools in Burlington-Hamilton are a great fit for many families. They promote independence, concentration, and confidence in their students. They do this through challenging tasks, uninterrupted work time, and developmentally appropriate work. In these schools, teachers rarely lecture and students do plenty of independent and group work.

There are a lot of great schools in Burlington-Hamilton. These include public and private schools. Public elementary and secondary schools in Burlington-Hamilton are part of the Halton District School Board.

There are 29 public elementary and 14 Roman Catholic elementary schools in Burlington-Hamilton. There are 8 public high schools and 3 Catholic high schools in Burlington-Hamilton. There are also several post-secondary schools close to the Burlington-Hamilton region, such as York University and the University of Toronto in Mississauga.