Montessori education is child-centered, and learning is individualized and hands-on. Next to learning from their own experience, children learn best from other children. Within a mixed age group the younger children imitate the older children and older children are able to reinforce their leadership skills by sharing their knowledge with the younger ones.
Within a fully prepared Montessori Children's House, children experience a wide range of multi-sensory learning materials. These materials fall within 5 key areas:
*Practical Life,
*Sensorial,
*Language,
*Math, and
*Culture.
The Cultural curriculum includes an integrated study of History, Geography, Anthropology, Biology, Zoology, Physical Science, and the Arts.
Each area is prepared with a range of materials that teach/explore one key knowledge area or skill. Guided by the child’s curiosity, teachers introduce materials appropriate to the child’s stage of development and abilities. During a 2.5 - 3hr. morning "work cycle" children move from lesson to lesson guided by their interests.
Nature is good for us. The out of doors will be considered a natural extension of the classroom, one that welcomes the child to explore and to work with their lessons in an open and beautiful space. Working out of doors will allow the children to explore using all their senses. Time spent in nature fosters scientific inquiry and inspires creativity. It may also be the perfect place to find a quiet spot to just sit and wonder.
While curriculum plays an important role in developing a child's physical, intellectual and academic skills (reading, writing, math, etc), nurturing a child's inner life, helping them to develop the skills of social-emotional intelligence is just as important.
Education for peace is a foundational component of Montessori education at all levels. The Practical Life lessons of Grace & Courtesy play an important role in the children's day-to-day. Through modeling and guidance children are empowered to communicate more authentically and effectively with kindness and respect. They learn to care for themselves, their environment, and the people in it.
The importance of the hand and its role in development of the intellect is at the heart of Montessori education. Dr. Montessori taught that the hand and brain must develop in harmony. The hand reports to the brain; the brain guides the hand; the cycle continues, resulting in the development of the intellect. Contemporary neuroscience is filled with evidence of the strong connection between the hand and the brain.
Through years of research, Dr. Montessori designed ingenious hands-on learning tools that encourage focus, concentration, and self-directed learning. These didactic materials and the way they are presented are intentionally designed to support independent learning and problem-solving. The materials are presented in order - progressing from simple to more complex, each specifically made to allow children the satisfaction of learning by their own discoveries rather than by rote.
Montessori materials are designed to:
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Provide a hands-on, experiential approach to learning
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Simplify abstract concepts
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Isolate one concept or skill at a time
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Help develop fine motor skills
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Aid in refinement of the senses
The Lessons
Individual lessons are an essential component in teaching in a Montessori classroom. By presenting lessons individually or in small groups, both teachers and children become partners in the learning process.
Characteristics of a lesson:
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They are clear, concise and brief.
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Lessons are pared down and simplistic
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In presenting a lesson, the teacher remains as objective as possible.
In working with small groups and individual children, creativity, questions, logical thinking, empathy, and connectivity is fostered. The children learn at their own pace, which allows them to concentrate on what they're in the process of discovering.
Children of a mixed age community learning together and working together, will learn from each other, both as students and as teachers. Many times an older child who is proficient with a certain skill will give a lesson to a younger child. When an older child is encouraged to help a younger child, their own learning is enhanced in many ways.