The Best Experience: Short-Term Montessori School In Taipei

Progressive Montessori Learning Space

The school is located on the second floor of a university’s industrial design department. The floor plan is divided by glass walls for a modern open-air feel. Student work is on display, contributing to an inspiring atmosphere for anyone visiting the school.

Small Class Size

During my children’s time at the school, there were 6 full-time students with up to 4 short-term students. My son struggles in larger groups; his California class has almost 30 students, and he feels withdrawn and found it hard to make friends. He often said he didn’t want to go to school. Transitioning him to this Montessori school worried me, but he felt comfortable right away. The teacher noted that he was talkative, participated in all the activities, and quickly connected with the other students. He truly thrived in this environment. After the first day, he ran to me at pick-up to share how much he enjoyed his day. I was almost moved to tears!

Mixed-age Classroom

Student ages ranged from 6 to 11, with certification extending to age 13. This arrangement allowed my children to be in the same class. Another benefit is that a mixed-age environment fosters leadership skills. Students are encouraged to seek assistance from classmates before turning to the teacher, promoting teamwork, self-learning, and problem-solving—the cornerstones of Montessori education. My daughter became a more confident and independent learner in the 3 weeks she attended this Taipei Short-Term Elementary School.

Homework Policy

Parents have the option to decide whether their children will receive homework and the amount they’ll receive. As my kids were short-term students, I chose to opt out of homework due to our packed schedule with numerous extracurricular activities and family events during our limited time at the school.

Language Arts

The head teacher obtained her Montessori accreditation in Australia and is fluent in Mandarin, Taiwanese, and English. The primary language of instruction is Mandarin. Since our goal is to improve Mandarin, my kids focused on Chinese during the English lessons. They even learned how to use a Chinese dictionary. Chinese lessons were customized to match my children’s different proficiency levels.

For those focused on learning Mandarin, I would avoid peak travel periods like Christmas and summer breaks, when other English-speaking visitors are more likely to enroll. Despite efforts to maintain Mandarin immersion, a visiting student who spoke only English gravitated toward my son, leading to more English usage. The teacher took notice and separated the two, but with such a small group, it’s challenging to limit interaction.

English is also incorporated into the curriculum. From my observation, the students demonstrate proficiency in understanding English and read at a higher level than their peers in the US. My daughter also enjoyed learning cursive, something she had not learned from her school in California.

Montessori Math

After just a few days at this school, my daughter exclaimed, “I actually understand this kind of math!” Back in California, her school teaches the Common Core curriculum, which many parents find frustrating. We’ve joked about needing to watch online videos to help our children with 2nd-grade Common Core math. My daughter’s math skills improved substantially at this Taipei Short-Term Elementary School. The school provides various Montessori math manipulatives to help them complete their math assignments.

Hands-on Science

There are many opportunities for hands-on science fun, from learning how to use a microscope to discovering the organs within a human body. Additionally, students receive an introduction to engineering through the CIO Maker School, a third-party STEAM program. This program conducts engaging hands-on projects at the school, where students construct wooden models. CIO is one of my children’s favorite part of their school experience.

Physical Education

The school day includes ample exercise opportunities. Once a week, the students decide what activity they do on physical education days — basketball, tennis, or running laps. On Fridays, the entire class walks to the sports center for their weekly swim lesson. During the week, students also walk to their dance and drum lessons.

Field Trips

Once a week the class goes on an off-campus adventure. My kids were excited about taking a chartered bus to Keelung to visit the Marine Science Museum. Another memorable trip took them to the Taipei Zoo, where they immersed themselves in wildlife encounters. The school organizes diverse field trips within and outside Taipei city, and even ventures overseas! It’s worth noting that there are no field trips during exam weeks, ensuring students can focus on their studies during these periods.

Location, Schedule, and Tuition

Location

Located in Taipei’s Zhongshan District, the school is just an 8-minute walk from the nearest MRT station, with several public buses stopping directly at the school gate.

School Schedule

The school day runs from 8 am to 3 pm. Students have lunch but no snack time. There is no designated nap time. Physical education is scheduled for Monday mornings, while Thursdays are dedicated to off-campus excursions. On Friday afternoons, the class walks 15 minutes to a nearby sports center for group swim lessons. During the week, the class also walks 10 minutes to a nearby park for taiko drum lessons and takes the MRT for dance class.

Tuition

The cost of tuition for short-term enrollment is NT 18,000 per week. This is approximately $551 USD. Please note that this tuition pricing is subject to change by the school. Tuition includes all supplies, daily lunch, and field trips.

Summary of Our Experience at This Taipei Short-Term Elementary School

I was impressed by how the school fosters peer-to-peer learning, problem-solving, and collaboration among classmates. Teachers offer a variety of learning experiences to accommodate different learning styles. Additionally, students learn to take responsibility for their actions and decisions.

On our way to class, we often see the university and high school students sweeping the campus grounds. My kids mentioned that they also have responsibilities such as sweeping the classroom, washing dishes, and other duties. This experience taught them the importance of everyone contributing to the group’s functioning. They are now more willing to help out at home. No more complaining about unloading the dishwasher!

A child who normally complains about school, my son enjoyed every day at this Montessori elementary. I plan to enroll my children again next year and every future visit to Taiwan.