What is Montessori?

Montessori is a method of education that is based on hands on learning, collaborative play, and self directed activity. In Montessori classrooms children make creative choices in their learning while the classroom and the teacher offer age appropriate activities to guide the process. Children work in groups and individually to discover people, places and knowledge of the world.

Montessori classrooms are beautifully crafted environments designed to meet the needs of children in a specific age range. Dr. Maria Montessori discovered that experiential learning in this type of classroom led to a deeper understanding of language, mathematics, science, music, social interactions, and much more.

Each material in a Montessori classroom supports some aspect of a child’s development, creating a match between the child’s natural interests and the available activities. Because of this match, children can learn through their own experience and at their own pace. They can respond at any moment to the natural curiosities that exist in all humans, and build a solid foundation for life-long learning.

Who is Maria Montessori?

Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was an Italian physician and anthropologist who became fascinated with how children develop socially, intellectually, physically, and spiritually. Through her careful observations of children all over the world, she discovered universal patterns of development which are found in all children regardless of their culture.

Dr. Montessori created this educational approach based upon these natural patterns and grounded in a profound respect for all life. Over the past one hundred years children throughout the world have benefited from this educational approach that supports, nurtures, and protects natural development.