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What is Montessori?

The Montessori Method of education, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, is a child-centered educational approach based on scientific observations of children from birth to adulthood. Dr. Montessori's Method has been used for over 100 years in many parts of the world.

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It is a view of the child as one who is naturally eager for knowledge and capable of initiating learning in a supportive, thoughtfully prepared learning environment. It is an approach that values the human spirit and the development of the whole child—physical, social, emotional, cognitive.

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Essential elements of a Montessori program:

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  • Mixed age classrooms

  • Student choice of activity from within a prescribed range of options.

  • Uninterrupted blocks of work time, ideally three hours.

  • A "discovery" model, where students learn concepts from working with materials, rather than by direct instruction.

  • Specialized educational materials developed by Montessori and her collaborators often made out of natural, aesthetic materials such as wood, rather than plastic.

  • A thoughtfully prepared environment where materials are organized by subject area, within reach of the child, and are appropriate in size.

  • Freedom of movement within the classroom.

  • A trained Montessori teacher who follows the child and is highly experienced in observing the individual child's characteristics, tendencies, innate talents and abilities. 

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Additional Resources for Parent Education

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