Who was Maria Montessori?

Founder Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was an Italian educator and physician, best known for developing the Montessori method of teaching young children. To learn more about Maria Montessori and her research, click here.

A Montessori Education = A Holistic Way to Grow

Montessori is a very holistic approach to learning and development. Montessori schools are not as concerned with producing amazing readers as they are with helping each child develop more fully into the adult they will become.

This method encourages character development, not simply the accumulation of knowledge. Not merely the intellectual faculties, but also the powers of deliberation, initiative, independent choice, and the associated emotional development.

What (Really) Makes a Montessori Classroom So Powerful?

We view the Montessori classroom as a functioning social community–because it is! In order for our classroom to be a nurturing, positive environment, children are trained in fundamental social qualities that form the basis of dependable citizenship. Qualities and skills such as:

• Cooperatively working with a group
• The self-discipline required to perform a task
• The ability to assert oneself in a respectful manner

Although many daycares and schools encourage these skills, at La Casa dei Bambini we consistently reinforce these values and teach the children how to manage themselves. Students learn that their ability to self-manage comes from them, not from a teacher or facilitator.

And Then There’s the Actual Work…

Activities in the six main areas are introduced to the children when they show interest and have the ability to eventually master the activity. For example, a 3-year-old will not be introduced to report writing because they are have not developed all the skills necessary to write one successfully.

Unlike most traditional educational environments, children are able to progress through the activities at their own pace.  This can happen because:

1.) A Montessori classroom is designed and organized to meet the needs of all the children in the class at all times.

2.) Montessori students are taught classroom procedures that allow them to work on different activities at different times.

Therefore….

A Montessori classroom is full of directed, focused, and engaged learning.