What Qualifies as Montessori Method?

I have questions about a Montessori school and the Montessori philosophy. The work given to the children at my daughter's school is all about the preciseness of getting everything correct in a room of 2- to 6-year-olds. Worksheets are an everyday thing (body parts, land formations, Earth, countries, sky, planets, flower parts, etc.). They consist of filling in facts in a precise way. The younger children resist doing this work, and the older ones fool with their friends and do the dull work slowly.
Literature, books, calendar, family, cultures and community are not part of the program. I'm concerned about the children's sense of self, self-worth and all the behavior problems that lead them to time-outs and being sent to the end of the line or away from the group.
The parents are so tired of the teacher complaining that the children are misbehaving and not concentrating enough that some refuse to show up for conferences. What should a Montessori program be like? -- Dissatisfied With Montessori
Answer: It is important for you to understand that any school can call itself a Montessori school regardless of whether they have teachers who are trained in the method or actually offer a Montessori curriculum. It sounds like your child is not attending a true Montessori school and has a very ineffective teacher.
In a Montessori program, you will find a range of ages in the classroom so that the older children can serve as models for the younger ones. You will NOT find students using worksheets, and literature will play a big part in the day-to-day programs. In addition, Montessori classrooms provide a prepared environment in which children are free to respond to their natural drive to work and learn.
Teachers in Montessori programs are trained to respect children as self-directed individuals and foster growth toward independence and social responsibility. Teachers guide children to develop at their own pace and gradually discover their potential while helping children to help themselves. Obviously, this is not happening in your daughter's classroom.
There are two major Montessori school organizations, the Association Montessori Internationale and the American Montessori Society. While there are some similarities between the two approaches, there are also differences between them, particularly in the area of teacher training. We would suggest you look for a recognized Montessori school online at www.montessori-ami.org or at www.amshq.org.