About Montessori

The 'whole child approach'

The primary goal of a Montessori programme is to help each child reach his or her full potential in all areas of life. The holistic curriculum, under the guidance of a fully qualified Montessori early childhood educator allows the child to experience the joy of learning, time to enjoy the process and ensures the development of self-esteem and provides the experiences from which children create their knowledge. 

The Montessori learning environment

It is a child-centred environment where the focus is on the children's learning. 

A responsive, prepared environment 

The design of the environment reflects the care and attention that is given to reinforce the children's independence and the needs, interests, abilities and development of the children in the class are supported. The teachers provide the necessary resources including opportunities for children to function in a safe and positive environment to enable them to try new things and build their self-confidence. 

A focus on individual progress and development

The children have the freedom to choose their own activities and progress at their own pace, extending themselves when they are ready to move to the next step in each area of learning.

 
Montessori learning activities/Hands-on learning

Children in a Montessori environment learn best by direct, personal, hands-on contact with real things or concrete materials that bring abstract concepts to life which allow children to learn with much deeper understanding. 

Freedom within limits

Each Montessori class operates on the principle of freedom within limits and has its set of ground rules but is always on the core Montessori beliefs-respect for each other and for the environment. 

Cooperation and collaboration

Montessori children are encouraged to treat one another with kindness and respect. 

Montessori materials

Dr Montessori designed the Montessori learning materials to stimulate the child into logical thought and discovery. The Montessori material teaches one concept or skill at a time¸ is sequential and self-correcting which facilitates the learning of skills and lead to learning of abstract ideas. The Montessori Materials are simple, appealing and are carefully designed to attract children at a given level of development. 

The Montessori teacher

The teacher originally called a "Directress." functions as designer of the environment, resource person, role model, demonstrator, record keeper and meticulous observer of each child's behaviour and growth and also acts as a facilitator of learning.