Montessori education provides a rich and stimulating child centered learning community, which encourages the child to interact with peers, the materials, and adults in positive and meaningful ways. Each classroom environment contains a set of age appropriate materials designed to attract the child’s interest and attention. Everything is child sized permitting successful exploration and movement. Our curriculum provides the means to enable the young child to develop independence, coordination, order and self-discipline.
The Montessori classroom is made up of children of mixed ages with three, four and five-year-olds all sharing the same classroom. Much indirect learning occurs in these multi-age classrooms. Younger children have role models, and the older children have opportunities to develop their potential for leadership and social responsibility. This classroom environment becomes a thriving community where children are treated with dignity and respect therefore learning to treat others with dignity and respect. Dr. Maria Montessori believed that young children must be in a community of others to develop their full potential. She advocated groupings of 25 to 30 children to form their children’s society. Montessori teachers are trained to prepare these special learning environments and to observe each child’s development signals that indicate readiness for learning.