The Montessori method of education is a unique form of early education. It’s been successfully integrated into many private and public schools curriculum, but, in its true form, the Montessori method is a method of education that emphasizes child-led learning and discovery.
We strongly believe that every child can benefit from a Montessori education.
HOW ?:
Simply put, Montessori is a scientifically founded method of educating children founded on the belief that a child’s education should be constructed to develop all aspects of a child: social, emotional, physical and academic.
WHY:
Because every child possesses the innate skills, abilities and qualities to achieve their highest potential. Even from a young age, children hold an amazing capacity for independence and to grow their physical, intellectual and emotional faculties to their fullest expression.
COMPONENTS OF MONTESSORI EDUCATION:
Although each Montessori school is unique, you’ll find certain consistencies between schools. These consistencies are based on a common set of components that guide students and teachers throughout the program.
MULTI-AGE GROUPING OF CHILDREN:
Multi-age groupings of children are a unique classroom component of the Montessori program. The reason for multi-age groupings within the classroom is twofold: Younger students naturally learn more from their older peers, and older students tend to retain more information when they teach it to younger ones. Besides that, having children of different ages and stages together in the classroom mimics the real world, teaching students how to get along with people of different ages and interests.
STUDENT CHOICE OF ACTIVITY:
There’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to Montessori instruction. Montessori teachers set up their classroom to promote safe, independent exploration and learning, often through hands-on activities and lessons. Learning in a space that encourages their natural curiosity, children will feel the freedom to explore and learn about the world around them. Typically, a teacher will give students a choice among a set of hands-on activities to fill their day. These activities introduce or reinforce concepts and skills a teacher selects based on the students’ ages and needs. Among the benefits of this approach, teachers can design activities that match each child’s age and ability.
UNINTERRIPTED BLOCKS OF TIME TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES:
We love giving our students time to engage in the learning process. Whether they’re three or 13, our goal is to give each child the time they need to explore and understand the world around them. Rather than spend 30 minutes on math, 30 minutes on history and 30 minutes on reading, a Montessori day is broken into two- to three-hour chunks of time, allowing children to dive in and master a variety of concepts.
PRINCIPLES OF MONTESSORI EDUCATION:
The Montessori curriculum is designed around a certain set of principles derived from our philosophies about how children think and learn. These principles include the following.
1.) CHILD DETECTED WORK:
The first, and perhaps most important, thing to understand about Montessori education is that our goal is not to fill your child’s head with facts so that they can pass a test. While we agree that cultivating and expanding a child’s knowledge is incredibly important, we also believe that facts are only a part of the knowledge a child can and should cultivate as they grow and develop.
To this end, Montessori encourages children to experience “freedom with limits,” which can also simply be described as “child-directed work.” Each day Montessori teachers give their students some choice of activity. Students are given the chance to choose an activity that captures their personal interest or attention and then, once an activity has been chosen, they allow the child to spend a lot of time on the activity they chose. In some cases, the child may be working on their activity independently. In other cases, they may team up with a couple of other students who share their curiosity over that particular subject or activity. Together as a team, they discover, learn and grow through exploration.
In a Montessori classroom, this means you won’t find a teacher hurrying a child through an assignment or putting time constraints on their exploration of a concept. It also means you aren’t likely to find the whole group learning the same thing at the same time. Instead, you’re more likely to see small groups of children working on several different activities simultaneously. And, rather than standing up in front of the room directing the class, you’re more likely to find the teacher going from group to group of students, answering their questions and helping them along in their exploration.
2.) THE ABSORBENT MIND:
A young child is naturally an eager, highly capable learner who can absorb a significant amount from their environment. That is why their preschool and early elementary years are such a critical time to expose them to as many experiences, concepts and lessons as possible. The ideal time to enroll a child in a Montessori program is during their toddler phase — anywhere from 16-32 months. Why so young? Although learning is a life-long concept, the brain of a toddler is similar to a sponge — it soaks up everything in its path. There is no better time to begin encouraging their natural inclination to explore the world around them.
As children continue through the Montessori curriculum into elementary school, the emphasis on exploration and discovery continues, but it becomes guided by a child’s need to know “why” something is happening. With a significant focus on society and nature, the elementary school curriculum is designed to incorporate traditional core subjects like math, reading, history and science, but it is also designed to allow children the space to question why things are the way they are and explore how those things impact their daily lives.
The Montessori program also has a strong emphasis on personal accountability and practical concepts, such as time management and keeping personal space clean.
3.) SENSITIVE PERIODS FOR LEARNING:
Many parents don’t realize their child’s growth takes place across four scientifically based stages, or planes, of development, and each of these stages has different needs within the learning cycle. So, rather than adapting a subject to “fit” a certain age or stage, the Montessori theory says the educational approach itself is what should change to suit each stage.
Montessori teachers receive special training to recognize and nurture these sensitive periods, maximizing the opportunity to help children learn at the time when they can receive it most effectively. For example, young students might be introduced to mathematical concepts by spending time counting wooden blocks. Then, as they become more comfortable counting, their teacher may guide them toward basic concepts of adding and subtracting blocks to the mix — rather than moving right to a traditional method of handing out worksheets or memorizing the idea that 2+2=4.
In a similar fashion, Montessori students use the “movable alphabet” to learn their letters and, eventually, learn to read. The movable letters allow children to hold letters in their hands and move them around to see how they look and how they can be combined to create words. The idea behind this is that students progress in their abilities as they grow, maximizing the times that they are best able to receive information and using those times to set them up for success later on.
4.) A PREPARED ENVIRONMENT:
In a Montessori school, class environment is carefully designed to make learning an experience. We do not believe learning comes from memorizing facts — instead, we use a wide array of specialized materials that allow the child to learn with increasing levels of abstraction. These materials impart complex concepts, while the child enjoys their use and manipulation, through the guidance of a certified teacher.
The interesting thing about a Montessori classroom is that it is carefully designed, but that design is created with the intention that children will spend their days learning and exploring the classroom environment. “Prepared” never means restricted, and our teachers strive to provide open, safe spaces for children to discover and explore throughout their day. You’ll never see a Montessori classroom with places that are “off-limits” to a child or items they can’t touch.
This is also why we stress multi-age groupings. After all, there is more to the classroom environment than the materials on the shelves or the pictures on the walls. When children of varying ages and abilities work together, some of their discovery comes simply from their interactions with each other.
5.) INDEPENDENCE AND DISCOVERY:
Montessori also recognizes each child is different, and therefore their interests and educational needs will vary, as well. We emphasize an individual approach that allows teachers to figure out and develop activities and learning experiences that follow each child’s specific needs and readiness. Over time, these principles foster self-esteem, independence, exploration and creativity — the keys to ultimately promoting joy and a love of learning.
Child-directed learning means the child is leading their learning time. Instead, of directed 30-minute increments for an activity or task, children have longer blocks of time to engage in activities that cover subjects and things that interest them. These longer blocks of time give children the space they need to make discoveries and master new concepts.
ADVANTAGES OF MONTESSORI EDUCATION:
Now that you know what a Montessori education entails, then your next question is probably: What are the advantages of Montessori?
1.) MONTESSORI EDUCATION CREATES ENTHUSIATIC, SELF-MOTIVATED LEARNERS:
When children are given the space to learn at their own pace and in their own way, they actually enjoy learning! Montessori methods are designed to help your child develop a life-long love of learning and insatiable curiosity about the world around them. Dr. Montessori created the program in 1907, which means it’s been around for more than 100 years. Its longevity speaks volumes toward its success in teaching students more than just basic reading, writing and arithmetic.
2.) MONTESSORI EDUCATION RESULTS IN IMPROVED SOCIAL AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS:
Because of the multi-age classroom atmosphere, children who study under a Montessori program typically interact better with their peers. They learn positive ways to resolve differences and find connection and camaraderie in their joint pursuit of discovery. Because of Montessori’s emphasis on cultural diversity, children also grow up learning the importance of connecting with others from different perspectives and backgrounds, a skill that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.
3.) MONTESSORI STUDENTS POSSESS ADVANCED READING AND MATHEMATICAL ABILITIES:
Reading is a huge part of Montessori education. Montessori kids love to read! We put a huge emphasis on literacy because it’s a foundational component of discovery. You’ll also find that Montessori students display an advanced understanding of abstract and practical mathematical concepts. In a 2017 study of 140 students — some in Montessori programs, others in traditional classrooms — the students who were enrolled in Montessori programs displayed a more advanced set of literacy and math skills than their non-Montessori peers by the end of their third year in a Montessori program.
4.) MONTESSORI STUDENTS BECOME COMPASSIONATE, CONFIDENT AND POLITE CHILDREN:
Montessori is designed to do more than teach children to read and write. Montessori students typically display high self-esteem and great respect for others around them. Not only are they more self-confident, but they also demonstrate more kindness and compassion toward their peers. An interesting benefit of our emphasis on these areas in school is that it translates into their home life as well. Parents of Montessori students report that their children show great improvement in organization, cleaning and household chores. As they grow, their abilities to help and maintain their spaces at home grows.
