About Montessori
The Montessori Method was developed by an Italian physician, Dr. Maria Montessori, who after taking an interest in observing how children learn naturally, she opened her first "Casa di Bambini" (Children´s House) in 1907 in Rome. Dr. Montessori was an ambitious and confident woman, who refused to allow the societal norms of the time limit her. She was dedicated to advancing her "child-centered" educational approach, and traveled the world spreading a vital message: ‘Establishing a lasting peace is the work of education...all politics can do is keep us out of war'.
Montessori is both a philosophy and a method. It is based on a profound respect for childhood, accepting individual differences, and preparing a stimulating environment that allows each child to grow and develop in all areas: cognitive, physical, emotional and social. The Montessori method is characterized by an extensive curriculum, which gives the child freedom of choice and movement, while being guided by the teachers who ensure all developmental milestones are being addressed. It promotes hands-on activities, intrinsic motivation, curiosity for learning, sustained attention and collaboration amongst peers.
"The greatest gift we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence .”
- Maria Montessori
THE MONTESSORI CURRICULUM
Walk into a Montessori classroom and you will immediately notice the atmosphere is unlike a traditional classroom. The curriculum is based on several characteristics which determine not only "what is being learned", but "how it is being learned". The curriculum is composed of 5 basic areas of knowledge: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, and Culture. These areas of the curriculum are addressed under a framework that differentiates Montessori from other ways of teaching.
MIXED-AGE CLASSROOMS
Children are grouped in a range of ages based on the child´s stage of development. This allows for younger children to learn from the older ones, and for the older ones to exercise leadership. It also gives the children an opportunity to be exposed to a wide rage of materials, allowing them to progress at their own pace and rhythm.
PREPARED ENVIRONMENT
The classroom is designed so that children have access to specialized Montessori materials and activities. These materials are hand-picked and rotated by the teachers taking into consideration the needs of the children in their classroom. The room is organized in a way that promotes order, responsibility and independence.
INDIVIDUALIZED PLANNING
Through careful observation, teachers create individualized learning plans for each child based on their needs, strengths and interests. They keep careful record of the child´s progress in order to prepare personalized lessons that focus on working on all the developmental milestones. Montessori is without a doubt a child-centered approach.
INTRINSIC MOTIVATION
By nurturing the child´s natural potential, Montessori teachers act as guides inside the classroom. They encourage the children to engage in prolonged work cycles that stimulate their attention spans, and gives them time for repetition, practice, and achieving mastery. This sense of achievement becomes the motivation they need to continue working and perfecting their skills.
