FAQ

What is Explore Montessori & Academy?

Explore Montessori & Academy is an infant, toddler, preschool, and early education program in Bozeman, Montana. Our classrooms follow the Montessori Method and are designed to help children explore, discover, build independence, and develop a lifelong love of learning.

Where is Explore Montessori & Academy located?

Explore Montessori & Academy has two Bozeman campus locations: 1933 N 22nd Ave, Bozeman, MT 59718 and 1705 W Kagy Blvd, Bozeman, MT 59715.

What ages does Explore Montessori & Academy serve?

Explore serves children from infancy through age 6. Programs include Explore Piccolo for infants, Pre-Primary for toddlers and two-year-olds, and Primary for preschool and kindergarten-aged children ages 3 to 6.

Is Explore Montessori & Academy a daycare, preschool, or Montessori school?

Explore is more than childcare. We provide nurturing care, preschool, and early education through a Montessori-based approach that supports the whole child: academically, socially, emotionally, physically, and creatively.

Montessori Philosophy

What makes Explore Montessori & Academy different from traditional childcare?

Explore combines the time-tested Montessori philosophy with the practical support modern families need. Children learn through hands-on materials, carefully prepared classrooms, respectful guidance, outdoor experiences, and meaningful routines that build independence and confidence.

What does “freedom within limits” mean at Explore?

Freedom within limits means children are given real choices within clear, respectful boundaries. This helps children develop independence, responsibility, confidence, empathy, and respect for themselves, others, and their environment.

What is a prepared Montessori environment?

A prepared Montessori environment is a calm, intentional classroom designed around the child. At Explore, classrooms include low shelves, child-sized furniture, hands-on materials, natural light, and opportunities for independent discovery, practical life skills, and focused work.

Are Explore classrooms mixed-age?

Yes. Mixed-age classrooms are part of the Montessori approach. They allow younger children to learn from older peers and older children to develop leadership, empathy, and confidence by helping others.

Do children work at their own pace?

Yes. Children at Explore progress at their own pace with guidance from teachers who observe, support, and adapt lessons to each child’s development, readiness, and learning style.

Is Explore an authentic Montessori program?

Explore follows key Montessori principles including prepared environments, hands-on materials, mixed-age learning, child-led discovery, teacher observation, practical life, sensorial learning, language, math, cultural studies, and respect for each child’s developmental path.

Programs

What is Explore Piccolo?

Explore Piccolo is Explore’s infant program. It supports the physical, emotional, and social development of pre-walking children with small class sizes, a 1:4 adult-to-child ratio, respectful care, freedom of movement, and purposeful engagement.

When can infants start at Explore?

Explore is licensed to serve infants beginning at 6 weeks old. Infant transitions are based on each child’s growth, temperament, and developmental readiness, not age alone.

What is the Pre-Primary program?

Explore Pre-Primary serves children from around 14 months to 3 years old in a thoughtfully prepared, mixed-age environment. The program supports independence, curiosity, confidence, problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, large motor development, storytelling, nature-based learning, arts, and early Montessori lessons.

What is the Primary program?

Explore Primary serves children ages 3 to 6, including preschool and kindergarten-aged learners. Children engage with Montessori materials and lessons that support practical life, sensorial development, language, math, cultural studies, independence, focus, social development, and confidence.

Does Explore offer kindergarten?

Yes. Explore’s Primary program serves children ages 3 to 6 and includes kindergarten-aged learners in a Montessori environment where children can grow academically, socially, emotionally, and independently.

What learning areas are included in the Montessori classroom?

Explore classrooms include language, sensorial, math, cultural studies, and practical life. Children also have outdoor space and opportunities for movement, creativity, nature, and real-world learning.

Outdoor Learning, Play, and Whole-Child Development

Does Explore Montessori & Academy include outdoor learning?

Yes. Nature is one of Explore’s core values. Explore emphasizes unplugged experiences through gardens, trails, outdoor classrooms, outdoor play, fresh air, and nature-based learning.

Is play allowed in a Montessori classroom?

Yes. At Explore, play is understood as powerful and developmentally important, especially in the Pre-Primary years. Children experience Montessori lessons alongside open-ended play, storytelling, arts and crafts, group activities, outdoor movement, and nature-based learning.

How does Explore support social-emotional development?

Explore supports social-emotional growth through kindness, community, positive guidance, emotional safety, conflict resolution, self-regulation, respectful adult modeling, and consistent communication with families.

How does Explore handle big emotions, biting, or challenging behavior?

Explore approaches behavior as part of child development. Teachers use compassion, positive reinforcement, redirection, clear expectations, natural consequences, prevention, documentation, family partnership, and outside support when needed. Safety is always prioritized.

Parent Partnership and Communication

How does Explore communicate with parents?

Explore uses Brightwheel for daily notes, naps, meals, photos, activities, two-way messaging, incident reports, news, reminders, and classroom updates. Parents are also contacted by phone when a child is ill, injured, distressed, needs medical attention, or is having a difficult adjustment day.

Can parents observe the classroom?

Yes. Explore welcomes classroom observations by appointment from October through May. The school also encourages strong communication between parents, teachers, supervisors, and directors.

How does Explore partner with families?

Explore views learning as a shared journey between children, teachers, and families. Parents and grandparents can participate through classroom help, special projects, garden work, sharing careers or culture, workshops, gatherings, and community connections.

Does Explore respect family values and parental autonomy?

Explore aims to work in respectful partnership with families while meeting licensing, health, and safety responsibilities. The school emphasizes open communication, family involvement, cultural respect, inclusion, and a community where every family structure, culture, and background is honored.

Practical Questions

What are Explore Montessori & Academy’s hours?

The school day includes drop-off between 7:30–8:30 a.m. and pick-up at 3:30 p.m. Aftercare is available from 3:30–5:30 p.m. with advance sign-up.

Does Explore offer part-time or half-day schedules?

Yes. Explore’s tuition schedule includes half-day and school-day options, with different choices by age group and number of days per week. Current tuition should be verified on the tuition page each school year.

How much is tuition at Explore Montessori & Academy?

Tuition varies by age group, schedule, and number of days per week. The 2025–2026 tuition sheet lists infant/toddler and primary options for half days and school days, plus annual, application, and registration fees. Families should check the current tuition page or request information for the most up-to-date rates.

Are scholarships or sibling discounts available?

Explore’s tuition materials state that sibling discounts, scholarships, and a sliding fee scale are available upon request.

How many days is Explore closed?

Explore’s parent handbook states that planned closures include major holidays and up to 10 professional development days. These dates are listed on the Parent Calendar through the school website.

What should my child bring to school?

Children should have seasonally appropriate clothing and gear, including indoor shoes, extra clothing, sunscreen, jackets, rain gear for muddy play, and winter gear when needed. Parents provide nutritious meals and snacks, and items should be labeled.

How does Explore support potty training?

Explore supports potty training gently and consistently with home routines. Clothing should be easy for children to manage independently, and children must be fully potty trained before entering Primary.

Choosing the Right Montessori School

What should parents look for when choosing a Montessori school in Bozeman?

Parents should look for authentic Montessori principles, uninterrupted work periods, mixed-age classrooms, hands-on materials, trained guides, prepared environments, child-centered philosophy, balanced curriculum, transparent communication, parent partnership, a kind school culture, continuity, and a practical fit for the family.

Is Explore a good fit for a shy child?

Explore may be a strong fit for a shy child because Montessori classrooms allow children to build confidence gradually through predictable routines, hands-on work, small-group interactions, respectful guidance, and progress at the child’s own pace.

Is Explore a good fit for an outgoing or active child?

Explore may also be a strong fit for an outgoing or active child because the program balances freedom with limits, outdoor movement, practical life, purposeful work, social development, group experiences, and opportunities to lead, help, explore, and move.

How do I know whether Explore is the right fit for my family?

The best way to know whether Explore is the right fit is to schedule a weekday morning tour, observe Montessori in action, meet the team, ask questions, and consider whether the environment feels aligned with your child’s needs and your family’s values.

Call to Action

How do I schedule a tour or request information?

Families can schedule a weekday morning tour or request more information through Explore Montessori & Academy’s website. A tour is the best way to see the classrooms, observe the Montessori approach, and decide whether Explore is the right fit for your child.