Montessori Principles | Montessori Academy (2024)

Respect for the Child

Much of the Montessori philosophy stems from a deeprespect for children. This involves respecting the uniqueness of every child, their freedom to choose, to move, to correct their own mistakes, and to work at their own pace. Montessori educators work and interact with children from a place of genuine respect.

Absorbent Mind

Doctor Maria Montessori’s researchdetermined that the first six years of life are the most crucial in a child’s development. She termed this stage the period of the ‘absorbent mind’ to describe the child’s sponge-like capacity to absorb information from their environment. During this time, children rapidly develop an understanding of their culture, and their world, and construct the foundations of their intelligence and personality.

Sensitive Periods

Doctor Maria Montessori observed that children pass through specific stages in their development when they are most capable of learning specific knowledge areas and skills. She termed these stages ‘sensitive periods,’ which essentially describe windows of opportunity for learning. Characteristics of sensitive periods include: intense focus, repetition, commitment to a task, and greatly extended periods of concentration.

Educating the Whole Child

Montessori educationis focused on nurturing each child’s potential by providing learning experiences that support their intellectual, physical, emotional and social development. In addition to language and mathematics, the Montessori Curriculum also covers practical life, sensorial, and culture. All aspects of children’s development and learning are intertwined and viewed as equally important.

Individualised Learning

Montessori learning programsare personalised to each child based on their unique stage of development, interests, and needs. Lessons with the Montessori materials are presented one-on-one based on each child’s academic progress. Educators track each child’s progress and support them as they progress through the curriculum.

Freedom of Movement and Choice

Doctor Maria Montessori observed thatchildren learn best when they are free to move, free to choose their own work, and follow their interests. In a Montessori classroom, children are free to move around the prepared environment, work where they feel they will learn best, and discover learning outcomes through hands-on experience. Montessori learning is largely active, individually paced, often self-correcting, and tailored to the needs and interests of each individual child.

Prepared Environment

The Montessori classroom is also known as the prepared environment. This is a carefully prepared learning space where everything has a purpose and a place. There is a distinct sense of order which assists children in developing logical thought processes. The fundamental idea is “order in environment and mind.” Within this space, children are free to follow their interests, choose their work, and progress at their own pace.

Intrinsic Motivation

TheMontessori approachtakes the view that learning is its own reward. In the Montessori classroom there’s aren’t any gold stars to reward children’s learning. Instead, children derive a sense of accomplishment from completing an activity and learning to do it for themselves.

Independence

Montessori is aneducation for independence. It provides children with the environment, materials, and guidance to learn to do and think for themselves. It views children as born learners who are capable and willing to teach themselves when provided with the right stimulus. The ultimate goal of Montessori education is independence.

Auto-Education

One of the core principles of the Montessori Method is the concept of auto-education. It’s based on the belief that children are capable and willing to teach themselves if they are provided with interesting learning stimulus.Montessori materialswere developed to meet this need and empower children with the ability to direct their own education. Montessori educators provide the prepared environment, guidance, and the encouragement for children to educate themselves.

Where to next? Prepared Environment

The Montessori Classroom is referred to as the prepared environment. It is a meaningfully structured learning space where everything has a purpose and a place. Furniture is light and child-sized, learning materials are designed to fit in children’s hands, and everything is designed to be open and accessible. The prepared environment activates a love of learning through curiosity, stability, and the freedom to choose.