“Our care of the child should be governed
not by the desire to make him learn things…But by the endeavor
always to keep burning within him that light which is called
intelligence.”
- Dr. Maria
Montessori
The goal of a Montessori education is to foster competent,
responsible, adaptive citizens who are lifelong learners and problem
solvers. Students are encouraged to exercise their natural
curiosity, and are guided through the classic Montessori curriculum
by their teachers. Rather than acting as passive receptacles for
information, children learn through hands-on work with materials and
interaction with
others.
In a Montessori environment, all aspects of the child are
considered. Physical, emotional, social, aesthetic, and cognitive
needs are treated with equal importance. Learning takes place
through the use of a large and flexible array of learning materials
and activities, which allows teachers to customize the educational
experience to the individual child’s interest, skills, and
developmental stage.
Montessori classes are comprised of children of a range of ages -
typically a spread of three years. This allows children to learn
from each other, fosters cooperation, and respects differences in
development stages. Schedules provide large blocks of uninterrupted
time for children to problem solve, develop new ideas, and make
interdisciplinary connections. Throughout it all, respect and care
for oneself, for others, and for the environment is emphasized as a
critical part of education.
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