What is Montessori Education?

What is Montessori Education?

The Montessori Method fosters rigorous, self-motivated growth for children and adolescents in all areas of their development—cognitive, emotional, social, and physical. Montessori-style learning occurs in a prepared environment with practical life activities that support learning through action. Students can choose from these activities freely. Montessori materials are designed to provide corrective feedback so that the students can learn and correct themselves.

"When a child is given a little leeway, he will at once shout, ’I want to do it!’ But in our schools, which have an environment adapted to children’s needs, they say, ‘Help me to do it alone.’" —— DR. MARIA MONTESSORI, THE SECRET OF CHILDHOOD

The Montessori method of education was started in the early 20th century by Italian physician Maria Montessori, who developed her theories through scientific experimentation with her students, this method has since been used in many parts of the world. The Montessori classroom is suitable in theory for all ages. In practice, however, most Montessori classrooms are serving preschoolers and kindergartners. Preschoolers are the age at which education is still considered optional, a choice.

Montessori education is student-led and self-paced but guided, assessed, and enriched by knowledgeable and caring teachers, the leadership of their peers, and a nurturing environment. Children work in groups and individually to discover and explore knowledge of the world and to develop their maximum potential. Rather than sitting still and absorbing lessons taught by a teacher, the child in the Montessori classroom educates himself with the teacher as his guide. In the Montessori classroom, students use hands-on materials and specially prepared classrooms to develop both intellect and character. In Montessori education theory, this type of self-actualization of students is called “normalization.”

Rather than simply filling children with facts, Montessori education strives to nurture each child’s natural desire for knowledge, understanding, and respect. Montessori Education is a method of education that is based on self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play. In Montessori classrooms children make creative choices in their learning, while the classroom and the highly trained teacher offer age-appropriate activities to guide the process.

Montessori provides a child-led learning environment. Children can freely choose amongst the displayed working materials. They fall under tightly interconnected curricular areas that encompass sensory, language, mathematics, geography, culture, music, art, and practical life. These activities can help young children learn life skills, feel needed, develop a strong sense of self, and grow a sense of responsibility.

Montessorians are often heard saying, “Follow the child.” It’s a statement that guides us each day and drives our work in very particular ways. We believe the child has innate qualities that lead them to learning, and it is our job to prepare the path and then get out of the way.