Dr. Maria Montessori believed the goal of early childhood education should be to cultivate a desire to learn within the student, rather than simply fill the child with facts from a pre-selected course of studies. In our classroom, this objective is achieved in two ways. First, we allow each child to experience the enormous delight and satisfaction of learning by personal choice. Second, we help to perfect children’s natural desire for learning, so that their ability will be maximized in future learning situations.
What is the Montessori method?
The Montessori curriculum offers each child a sensible, structured system which allows children to develop at their own pace with the positive guidance of a teacher and the use of specially designed Montessori materials. The Montessori classroom is a child’s world that is geared to the size, pace, and interests of the child.
The Montessori environment is an arena in which children are able to understand the social expectations of their culture. The environment is designed to put children at ease by giving them the careful choices of attractive materials that are placed on shelves within easy reach. While using the materials, the children develop knowledge and absorb concrete concepts that they will use again in future learning situations. The dual long-range purpose of these Montessori materials give immediate, specific information to the child during their most absorbent years - from birth to the age of six.
The Montessori method recognizes each child’s period of readiness, encourages their whole development, promotes curiosity, and teaches respect for classroom materials and each other. Simultaneously, the careful environment offers children a sense of security and order. Children working in this environment will develop the self discipline, skills, and confidence needed to function cooperatively, independently, and responsibly. As the children work and play, a foundation for the love of learning is being formed for life. It is upon this philosophy that Montessori educators urge parents to make an investment in their child’s education, while the absorbent mind is at its peak for spontaneous learning.