Why Montessori?

Most educators and psychologists agree that the sing most important period in the development of a person's intelligence occurs between birth and the age of five. A child's mind is absorbent, and his curiosity is at a peak during these early years. When properly nourished and stimulated, the child's mind forms patterns of learning which serve him throughout his life. A Montessori school provides one of the most effective environments in which to guide through these critical years.

In most preschools, the children are taught educational concepts in a group by a teacher. In a Montessori program, the children work at their own pace, independently learning concepts from multi-sensory materials designed for self-correction and physical exploration.

The Montessori method of education is basically a unique approach to learning. Rather than "teaching" the child concepts, the environment is designed in such a way to expose her to materials and experiences through which she develops intellectual, as well as physical and psychological abilities. The prepared environment takes full advantage of the self-motivation and unique ability of the young child to develop her own capabilities- all with little or no adult intervention.

A Montessori classroom is a specially designed and equipped environment where the child can unfold spontaneously and manifest the greater person within. As Dr. Montessori said, "The child is the father of the man." (The secret of childhood, Maria Montessori, P. 36, 194) The purpose of the method is the development of the child's inner self, and from this, love of life and learning expand continuously.

In the early twentieth century, Dr. Maria Montessori was Italy's first woman physician, and this background led her to approach education not as a philosopher or educator, but as a scientist. Through careful observation of children, she developed unique materials in a child-centered environment and revolutionized educational thought by stressing respect for the child, freedom of expression, self-education, and learning through the use of the senses and movement.

The Montessori classroom is a child-sized world. Whatever is in the world outside can be incorporated meaningfully into the Montessori classroom. To the young child, the world is unmanageable-it is too big, too complex, and too confusing. By careful selection of materials by the teacher, an environment is set up which allows the child a place to explore life on a level she can understand. The materials and exercises are designed to stimulate independent exploration. This prepared environment entices the child to proceed at her own pace, from simple to more complex activities. through this process, her natural curiosity is satisfied, and she begins to experience the joy of discovering the world around her. Materials and curricula center around practical life, sensorial, mathematics, language, geography, history, science, art, music, drama, and perceptual motor development.