A Place for Your Child to Thrive
What is Montessori?
The Montessori approach to education is both a philosophy of child growth and a rationale for guiding such growth. It is based on the child’s needs for freedom within limits and a carefully prepared learning environment that allows learning to take place. The environment is prepared so a child can develop through his or her exposure to the materials and experiences offered through interaction with the teachers and the other students. It takes advantage of the self-motivation of the child and each child’s unique ability to develop his own capabilities.
The term, "Montessori," comes from the founder of Montessori education, Dr. Maria Montessori. A scientist first, Dr. Montessori developed this approach to education based on observation of children, in the early 1900s. The Montessori name is a public domain name, so anyone can name their school or program "Montessori." Be sure to check that the school you are considering has teachers who are Montessori certified through reputable and respected Montessori teacher training program.
Some basic premises of Montessori education include:
- Children are respected as different from adults, and as individuals who differ from each other.
- Children have strong abilities to absorb and learn huge amounts from their environments (unlike an adult).
- The most important years of growth are the first six years of life when unconscious learning is gradually brought to the conscious level.
- Children have a deep love of and need for purposeful work. However, children work not as an adult -- for profit and completion of a job -- but for the sake of the activity itself.
How is Montessori different?
Montessori education differs from traditional education in many ways. It is a positive and efficient brain-based education that takes into account the desire to learn and the pleasure that is connected with learning. It is based on scientific observation of the child and the child's interests. Teachers work with children individually or in small groups, instead of addressing the whole class at one time, and the students work at their own pace on materials that are relevant to them. Montessori also groups children in three-year age spans. At our school, children between the ages of 3-6 all work together in one classroom.
Our Goals
Our goals for our children are many. We encourage self-discipline, self-knowledge, and self-confidence. We want our children to become increasingly independent and coordinated. We strive to help our students increase their abilities to concentrate and focus and to be able to use an organized approach to problem solving and academic skills. Above all, though, we want our student to develop a deep enthusiasm for and lifelong love of learning.