| What is Montessori? A "whole child" approach to education. |
Montessori is a philosophy of education. Some see it
as a new and progressive method, but it has also been
tried and proven for over one hundred years. Dr.
Maria Montessori developed this “new education”
based on her scientific observations of children. She
established that children possess an intrinsic desire to
explore, discover, and learn about their environment,
and that they learn best in a supportive, home-like
setting. In 1907, she opened her first school “Casa de
Bambini” or Children’s House, and began developing
the very special learning environment, materials and
methods that have been enhanced over the years to
educate and challenge children and prepare them so
well for later life experiences.
Each Montessori classroom is a carefully prepared
learning environment for children at specific stages of
development. It is filled with specially designed, age
appropriate, multi sensory, sequential and self-
correcting materials, which facilitate the learning of
skills and concepts and enhancement of self-esteem.
This child centered, rather than teacher centered,
environment provides the opportunity for an
individually paced learning experience. This
experience is supported by a highly trained, certified
Montessori teacher whose goal is to provide an
environment where the child is stimulated and
challenged, but not pressured. The teacher is trained
as a keen observer in order to recognize the needs of
each individual and to offer appropriate learning
materials at each developmental stage. Through this
process the child not only acquires specific
knowledge and skills, but learns how to learn and how
to pursue the learning process.
The Montessori environment is a special community
for children. Here is a place just for them where they
may participate in every aspect of its functioning.
The children help to care for and respect the
environment, themselves, and their peers. Respect
and responsibility are part of everyday living in the
Montessori community and in life.
Each Montessori classroom is comprised of a three
year, mixed age group of children. It is an
environment in which younger students experience
the stimulation and guidance of older students. In
return, the older students are given the benefit of the
leadership role and they solidify their learning
experiences by helping others. Students stay in the
same class for three full years, allowing the full
development of strong, stable relationships and the
maturation from younger to older student.
Montessori is a “whole child” approach to education.
It aims to do much more than teach facts. Through
active involvement in their own education, the
children experience the joy of learning and gain the
characteristics necessary to complete their most
important work, the development of the adult that
they will become. All of these interactive and
educational experiences play an important role in the
evolution of the child’s knowledge of the world,
independence and self-esteem, all so crucial to a
healthy and productive life.
| Montessori Method |
| The Whole Child |
Dr. Maria Montessori believed
that no human being is
educated by another
person...the goal of early
childhood education should not
be to fill the child with facts from
a pre-selected course of
studies, but rather to cultivate a
natural desire to learn.
that no human being is
educated by another
person...the goal of early
childhood education should not
be to fill the child with facts from
a pre-selected course of
studies, but rather to cultivate a
natural desire to learn.
