Why Montessori
Fostering Individualized Child Development through Independent Exploration
What Makes Montessori Special?
Student Choice: Children choose their own activities from a range of choices carefully prepared by trained Montessori teachers.
Mixed Age Groupings: A mix of younger and older children in the same developmental stage allows students to advance seamlessly as they are ready for more challenging material, build authentic community, and learn from both teachers and peers.
Uninterrupted Independent Work Periods: Children build attention, focus, and concentration, while learning at their own pace.
Montessori Materials: Hands-on, concrete, self-correcting materials support engagement, curiosity, independence, and self-guided learning.
Comprehensive Curriculum: Teachers are trained in a broad curriculum covering language, math, science, culture, art, music, movement, practical life skills, and social development.
Personalized Learning: Teachers give lessons one-on-one or in small groups, allowing them to tailor each presentation to the skill level and readiness of individual children.
Natural Developmental Stages: Montessori classrooms look different for different ages because they are geared towards the planes of child development.
What is the Montessori Philosophy?
Montessori is an educational philosophy rooted in the observations and research of Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian scientist, medical doctor, and educator. First developed for low-income and disabled children in 1907, Montessori education is now practiced in public and private schools for infants through high schoolers all over the world.
Montessori teachers are trained to observe each child's individual interests and development level. The teachers prepare the classroom so that each child is free to independently choose his/her work throughout the work cycle. Based on her observations, the teacher presents "lessons" to the children from a variety of subject areas.
Children are encouraged to choose and repeat these lessons independently. Many of the Montessori materials have a "control of error," allowing the child to independently correct his/her own mistakes. Children can choose to work alone or with friends.
Montessori classrooms also grant children the opportunity to independently care for themselves, their peers, and their environment. The mixed-age environment creates a family-like rather than competitive community. Because each child typically stays with the same teacher for three years, an incredible bond is formed between the teacher and each member of the community.