What is Montessori?
Dr. Maria Montessori was the first woman physician in Italy, graduating from the University of Rome in 1898. She specialized in pediatrics and discovered the marvelous abilities of young children to learn through their senses.
Montessori established that education is not what the teacher gives, rather, that education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by an individual. This individual acquires knowledge not only by listening to words, but through experiences in his/her environment. The task of the teacher as such becomes that of preparing a series of lessons spread over a specially prepared environment, and then refraining as much as possible from obtrusive interference. Teachers aim to guide the great work that is already being done in a children’s world of natural learning.
Why Enroll Your Child at an Early Age in a Montessori Program?
The “formative” (or critical) period of profound sensitivity to learning is from birth to six years. Using his/hers “absorbent mind”, the young child takes in their world with great ease. The clearest example of this absorbent mind is the child’s explosion into speech without any obvious teacher except himself/herself.
In Montessori education, we embrace the profound capacity of young children to absorb the richness of their surroundings. Our meticulously prepared classrooms prioritize the individuality of each child, cultivating their emotional, physical, intellectual, and social development. At the heart of the Montessori approach lies a distinctive emphasis on hands-on learning through a myriad of interactive materials. These didactic items populate our classrooms, sparking the innate curiosity of children who eagerly explore activities across our comprehensive curriculum. The outcome is a generation of self-assured, joyful learners, carrying with them a lifelong love for discovery and education.
Education should no longer be mostly imparting of knowledge, but must take a new path, seeking the release of human potentialities.
-Dr. Maria Montessori
Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders: The Montessori Way
Montessori children become extremely adaptable and learn to work independently and in groups. Since they have been encouraged to make decisions from an early age, these children are problem solvers who can make appropriate choices and manage their time well. Encouraged to exchange ideas and discuss their work freely with others, such students’ good communication skills ease the way in new settings. Research has shown that a good predictor of future success is a positive sense of self-esteem. Montessori programs, based on self-directed, non-competitive activities, help children develop strong self-images and the confidence to face challenges and change with optimism.
We strive to help the individual child develop fully through their work. According to the teachings of Dr. Montessori, the founder of the “Montessori Method”, the following are areas of development you can expect to see in your child:
The goal of early childhood education should not be to fill the child with memorized facts, but rather to cultivate their own natural desire to learn. Our goal is to grow minds and nurture hearts.
In the initial weeks of school, you might observe some changes in your child, such as a growing desire to carry their lunch box, an increased appreciation for cleaning and caring for the environment, including a preference for orderliness and putting away toys. Additionally, you may notice improved concentration during play and a burgeoning fondness for engaging in useful activities, often accompanied by a strong inclination to take initiative with a “do it myself” attitude.