FAQs:

You will find the answers to these questions by scrolling down:
  • Why Blue River?
  • What are Sonia Kelly's credentials?
  • Sonia Kelly is AMI trained.  What is the difference between AMI
    and AMS?
  • There are less expensive schools.  Why Blue River?
  • Who will be working with my child?
  • Why Montessori?
  • Is Blue River a pure Montessori school?
  • Why have you chosen to incorporate the Reggio Emilia Approach?
  • Do you offer financial aid?
  • How much do you increase your tuition annually?


Why Blue River?
   Choosing the right preschool for your child is one of the most important
decisions you will make.  This is, after all, your child's first school
experience.  We are confident that the education offered at Blue River will
instill in your child social and academic confidence, and a sense of wonder,
joy, and humor.  The curriculum balances a strong focus on science, math,
and language with an appreciation for the arts and nature.  We:
  • have a three-to-one student-to-teacher ratio, with a maximum of ten
    children per class;
  • assure that our teachers have bachelor's and/or master's degrees;
  • offer a modified-Montessori approach to meet the needs of your child;
  • recognize that when choosing a preschool, the curriculum is only half
    of the equation; the teachers' personalities and credentials make up the
    other half.  When you visit us, you will know exactly who will be
    teaching your child before making your choice of a preschool;
  • never underestimate the ability of the preschool child's mind to grasp
    concepts.  We emphasize science concepts because it teaches the child
    to wonder and seek knowledge.  And through her experience teaching
    first through third grade, Ms. Kelly has adapted more advanced
    science, math, language, and art concepts to teach to your
    preschooler.  We also use the works of great artists, scientists, and
    musicians to inspire us in the classroom.

What are Sonia Kelly's credentials?
  • Over fifteen years of lead teaching experience and a Master of
    Education degree;
  • Remains current with the latest educational research through continuing
    education and her role as a book reviewer for Corwin Press Sage
    Publications;
  • Regular guest lecturer at Bridgewater State University;
  • Council member of Duxbury's Community Partnership for Children, a
    partner of the Chandler School.

Sonia Kelly is AMI trained.  What is the difference between AMI and
AMS?
   AMI is the one and only training program approved by Maria Montessori.  
In fact, Ms. Kelly's trainer's trainer was trained directly by Mario Montessori,
Maria Montessori's son.  Since the term Montessori was never trademarked,
other training institutes, such as AMS, have emerged. The major difference
between AMI and AMS is the length of training required to become certified.  
While AMI is an intensive one full year of full-time study, studying educational
theory and psychology, AMS requires six months or less of part-time
training.  Most AMI programs require a four-year college degree as a
prerequisite, whereas many Montessori teachers who are not trained by AMI
do not hold any sort of college degree.  Although Blue River applies a modified-
Montessori approach, the rigorous training and graduate course work
requirements of the AMI program have equipped Ms. Kelly with a thorough
knowledge of how the young child's brain learns.  For this reason, she is able
to tailor a curriculum which works for today's child, utilizing a best-practices
approach.  It is important to know the credentials of the teacher when making
decisions regarding your child's education.

There are less expensive schools.  Why Blue River?
  • Our ratio is unique.  In our classroom, we have half the students and
    more teachers than other preschools.  Our school is a wonderful
    stepping stone for children before they go to a larger facility for the
    elementary years.  Your child will get to know us well in our small
    family-style atmosphere, and we, in turn, will get to know each student
    and family.  This is what we believe promotes feelings of confidence in
    our students and families.  For us to lower tuition costs, we would
    have to increase our class size and decrease the number of teachers;
  • Our teachers hold bachelor's degrees and/or master's degrees;
  • Our school calendar has more school days than most preschools.  We
    start in September and end in June with fewer holidays in between.  To
    meet the needs of our families, we closely follow Duxbury's public
    school schedule;
  • Unlike most schools, we do not have any fees and we never ask for
    donations.  Tuition covers everything for your child for the entire year.

Who will be working with my child?
  No single factor will be more important for your child’s development than
having the right teacher.  When deciding on a preschool for your child, the
most important question you should ask is who will be teaching my child.  At
Blue River, your child will be taught by Ms. Kelly and her two teachers.
  Before deciding on the right preschool for your child, we encourage you to
visit Blue River and observe our classroom.  We’re confident that during your
visit you’ll see the wonderful interaction between our students and teachers –
the teachers that will be educating your child.  

Why Montessori?
   The Montessori curriculum recognizes that your child's brain has not
finished developing until the age of six.  Therefore, an academic approach
with an emphasis on teaching the child to be independent promotes optimal
brain development and leads to confidence.  For more information, see The
Montessori Method.

Is Blue River a pure Montessori school?
   While our fundamentals are based in Montessori, we are not a pure
Montessori school; we have chosen to implement a modified-Montessori
curriculum, incorporating Reggio Emilia and other non-Montessori approaches
to learning.  We take a best-practices approach, recognizing that good teaching
is good teaching, wherever it may have originated.  This is why our
curriculum is constantly evolving, and so are we as educators.  We recognize
that because the brain is developing, in addition to introducing academic
concepts, this is the time to introduce humor, and how to have fun in life!  We
found that Montessori does not always allow for that particular freedom.  
Today's child is different than the child for whom Maria Montessori developed
her curriculum.  Many of her students were orphans going to work in
factories at the age of eleven.  In our classroom, you will not hear a pin drop;
we are proud of our students' creative energy!  It is through this exploration
that young children learn.

Why have you chosen to incorporate the Reggio Emilia approach?
   Ms. Kelly has been studying the Reggio Emilia approach through Lesley
University's Graduate School of Education.  She was attracted to Reggio
because this approach:
  • recognizes the power of open-ended exploration and the power of
    play.  In Reggio, much of the exploration is facilitated by teachers and
    students with no end result in mind.  Children learn through play,
    because play behavior increases cognitive function, allowing the child
    to retain more of his/her learning.  The state of mind during play allows
    for the brain to relax, which then increases absorption;
  • incorporates materials which offer open-ended exploration, while most
    Montessori materials tend to be close-ended with a specific purpose;
  • believes that, as said by Loris Malaguzzi, creator of the Reggio
    approach, "Once children perceive themselves as authors and
    inventors, once they discover the pleasure of inquiry, their motivation
    and interest explode."  For that reason, we have a dedicated time for
    story workshop, when children can share stories, receive feedback
    from peers and teachers, and then develop and record their stories;
  • believes that the family is the most important component in a child's
    education.  For that reason, we take a team approach with the family in
    teaching the child.

Do you offer financial aid?
   Because our class size is so small, we cannot offer financial assistance at
this time.  Our rates are much lower than other Montessori schools that have
twice the number of children in a class; therefore, our profit margin is much
lower, leaving little opportunity for financial assistance.  

How much do you increase your tuition annually?
Our tuition increases have averaged less than five percent per year.
Blue River Montessori School
Duxbury, Massachusetts
Please email Sonia Kelly at SKelly@BlueRiverMontessori.org
or call (781) 834-4480 for more information.
"These words reveal
the child's inner needs:
'Help me to do it
alone.'"
-Maria Montessori