Why Montessori
Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was one of the first woman in Italy to receive a medical degree. She worked in the field of psychiatry, education and anthropology. She believed that each child is born with a unique potential to be revealed. Through observation, Maria Montessori discovered that children blossom when they are allowed freedom of choice and movement in an environment suited to their needs.
Montessori education recognizes the inseparable connection between the child’s mind, body, and heart - it is a holistic approach to learning. The Montessori environment contains specially designed materials for development that invite the children to engage in learning activities with all their senses. Under the guidance of a trained teacher, children in Montessori classrooms learn by making discoveries with the materials, thus cultivating concentration, motivation, persistence, inner discipline and a lifelong love of learning. For Maria Montessori “education is not what the teacher gives; education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the human individual and is acquired not by listening to words but by experiences upon the environment.”
The Montessori approach to education is a philosophy that views education as an aid to life. Central to the Montessori philosophy is the idea of allowing each child to develop at his or her own pace. The calm, beautiful and orderly space of the Montessori classroom provides a prepared environment where children are free to respond to their natural drive to work and learn.
Montessori education recognizes the inseparable connection between the child’s mind, body, and heart - it is a holistic approach to learning. The Montessori environment contains specially designed materials for development that invite the children to engage in learning activities with all their senses. Under the guidance of a trained teacher, children in Montessori classrooms learn by making discoveries with the materials, thus cultivating concentration, motivation, persistence, inner discipline and a lifelong love of learning. For Maria Montessori “education is not what the teacher gives; education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the human individual and is acquired not by listening to words but by experiences upon the environment.”
What are the benefits of Montessori?
The benefits of a high-quality Montessori education are not limited to the classroom. Montessori education goes beyond just academic performance. Through daily interactions in a beautifully prepared learning environment, a multiage group of peers, a three-year curriculum, and a knowledgeable and loving Montessori guide, children enjoy constant and consistent opportunities to develop executive functions such as concentration, self-regulation, and critical thinking, along with character traits that will be a guiding compass on their path to success: Kindness, respect, responsibility, and a lifelong love for learning.
• Freedom of choice and freedom of movement results in a deeper, more solid, and joyful learning experience.
• Uninterrupted work cycles promote deep concentration, self-paced learning, and joyful engagement in the learning process.
• Multiage classrooms are a source of academic inspiration for the younger students and support the development of mindful leadership for the older ones.
• The AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) Montessori guide attains professional certification through rigorous training courses which include hundreds of hours of observation of children -in the classroom, the home, and the community-, extensive lectures in child development, child psychology and neuropsychiatry, and professional demonstration of the implementation of the Montessori Method and materials in the classroom.
• A recent study in 2022 by the University of Virginia led by Dr. Angeline Lillard and her team found that individuals who attended Montessori schools for at least two years had significantly higher adult well-being than those who never had. In terms of self-determination and its benefits, the studies showed better academic performance and mastery orientation. In terms of social skills, they showed better social cognition and behavior, and a stronger sense of community. They also indicated more developed executive function. Academic performance, mastery orientation, social skills, and executive function all predict higher wellbeing.
Montessori is a celebration of human potential guided by the basic principles of Freedom with Responsibility, Kindness and Respect, and Independence for Collaborative Interdependence.