Montessori Philosophy
The unique educational philosophy set out a century ago by Dr. Maria Montessori aims to develop the child’s innate desire to learn. She recognized that a natural curiosity and a love of knowledge drive children.
To educate the whole child Dr. Montessori felt the child must have the freedom to learn at his or her own pace and in an individualized manner. The Directresses (Montessori Teachers) guide the child’s energies into constructive learning channels, taking into account the differences in learning styles and pace. The environment is specially prepared to encourage directed, independent learning. The Directresses guide the activity by providing knowledge in the form of presentations. The child is able to learn and acquire an ‘inner discipline’ free of the need for external reinforcements. This is the core of the Dr. Montessori educational philosophy.
“We are helping children to help themselves.”
The Montessori Curriculum
Dr. Montessori observed that the child passes through definite periods of sensitivity for acquiring knowledge and skills. Montessori education integrates these sensitive periods, with the individual interests of the child, to design a cumulative curriculum:
Practical Life
Practical Life Exercises help to instill care for self, for others, and for the environment. Activities include many of the tasks children see as part of the daily routine in their home, such as pouring, buttoning, sorting along with exercises of grace and courtesy. Through these tasks, children develop muscular coordination, enabling movement and the exploration of their surroundings. They learn to work at a task from beginning to end, and to develop their powers of control and concentration.
Sensorial
Sensorial Materials serve as tools for development. Children build cognitive skills, and learn to order and classify impressions by touching, seeing, smelling, tasting, listening, and exploring the physical properties of their environment.
Language
In Montessori classrooms, reading is taught by the ‘phonetic’ method. We use the combination of the Fun Family Phonics lessons and teaching the sounds of the letters along with the sandpaper letters. When the children have mastered the sounds, they begin to blend them into words. When ready, they participate in our Home Reading Program and take levelled books home every week.
Math
Early Math activities help children learn and understand the number concepts by manipulating concrete materials. This work gives children a solid understanding of basic mathematical principles, prepares them for later abstract reasoning, and helps to develop problem-solving capabilities.
Culture Studies
Geography, Biology, Botany, Zoology, Art and Music are presented as extensions of the sensorial and language activities. Children learn about people and cultures in other countries with an attitude of respect and admiration. Through familiarity, children come to feel connected to the global human family. Lessons and experiences with nature inspire a reverence for all life.
Specialist Classes
In groups of ten, the children attend a half-hour daily specialist session, in a designated room on the 2nd floor of the school. Classes include Yoga (Mondays), French (Tuesdays) and Music (Wednesdays) taught by specialist teachers. There is also a weekly Art and Craft, related to the season, a holiday, theme or artist of the month.
The Full Three-Year Cycle
To receive the full benefits of a Montessori education, a child who enrolls should remain in the program for 3 years. Each step of a child's development and learning from the time he or she enters the Montessori classroom serves as a solid foundation for the next. The child who does not finish the program will never experience the same benefits, joy and satisfaction of having reached the end. The best analogy would be to say, "having poured the concrete it also needs an opportunity to cure" for the foundation to be sound. A true Montessori program works in the same way. Therefore, the importance of the 3-year cycle is so crucial in Montessori.
“Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment.” ~ Maria Montessori