Why Montessori
There are many principles that set a Montessori education apart from others. If you’ve visited other schools, you’ll probably notice the
differences. We strive to provide an academic environment that also enhances self-esteem and develops a strong sense of individual
responsibility and community.
Spend some time in the classroom and on our campus. What do you observe?
- 1. Does a child have an opportunity to choose work that interests him/her?
- We think the child learns more when working on interesting materials that appeal to the child at that time of their development.
- 2. Does the teacher act as a guide or is the teacher the source of all knowledge?
- If the teacher is always “the front of the room,” what motivates the child to investigate, explore, and learn?
- 3. Do the children have a regular opportunity to work with children of different ages?
- Scientific studies have confirmed that both the oldest and youngest in a multi-age classroom learn more than in the traditional one-grade room.
- 4. Is the emphasis on cognitive structures and social development rather than rote knowledge?
- There is so much to learn, and that is changing so quickly, that rote memorization is of little use. The child must learn HOW to learn.
- 5. Does the school encourage internal self-discipline rather than the teacher acting as primary enforcer of external discipline?
- The child must develop the ability to pay attention and stay on task, and that must come from within, not from a “task master.”
- 6. Are the children encouraged to teach, collaborate and help each other regularly?
- In the real world, successful people are those who can work well with others. Yet many traditional classrooms discourage cooperation.
- 7. Can a child work as long as he or she wants on an interesting challenge without being stopped by a bell or a “period change?”
- Who knows when the child has learned all he is ready for at that moment? He or she needs a large block of time not interrupted by arbitrary schedules.
- 8. Is learning its own reward, not “motivated” by prizes and extrinsic rewards?
- Prizes and grades encourage competitiveness and discourage cooperation. A child who is really learning finds a joy that
far exceeds any teacher-produced reward.
- 9. Are multi-sensory “hands on” materials in regular use?
- What’s learned from workbooks and practice sheets is superficially learned if at all. Montessori provides three-dimensional
equipment that makes learning fun.
- 10. Can the child choose a favorite spot to work instead of being restricted to a desk and seat?
- Some learning needs extra space. And if there is more than one learner, even more space is required. A school desk
doesn’t always work.
- 11. Are the children respectful of the teacher and the environment?
- In the Montessori environment the teacher is a learning companion and guide.
- 12. Are the children nice to each other?
- Nobody is happy working in a threatening atmosphere of criticism and sarcasm. That’s why we emphasize courtesy and
empathy.
- 13. Is the environment organized and attractive?
- The Montessori environment is organized around the interests and stages of the child’s development.
- 14. Do the teachers and staff show respect for the children?
- Children in the Montessori class are given the amount of freedom they can handle. They are not required to always be in
lines or carrying passes.
- 15. Are the children calm?
- Our students have the self-confidence to be quiet, sociable and agreeable.
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