What is Montessori?

Montessori is an internationally-recognized, educational program that supports and nurtures the individual child. It is based on the pioneer work in education and human development of Dr. Maria Montessori (1870 – 1952). Dr. Montessori had a profound respect for the individual potential of each child. Montessori education is individualized, flexible, richly varied, and allows for exploration and creativity. While many people hang their hats on the enriched cognitive aspects of Montessori programs, it is to be noted that the underlying message of Dr. Montessori was to allow the natural pace of each individual to govern development and happiness. She discovered that children learn best when they are allowed to follow their individual interests. As a physician and anthropologist, she was very aware of the need to support whole child development.  This includes a strong parent partnership nurtured to support harmony with the home.

The Montessori Program:

• Promotes wholesome attitudes and values
• Builds a lifelong quest for knowledge
• Teaches critical thinking and communication skills
• Offers individualized attention with specially trained teachers
• Develops concentration and independence
• Promotes initiative and self-confidence
• Provides a multicultural learning experience
• Multiage classrooms promotes leadership and mentoring experience

Recommended Further Reading

Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius by Angeline Lillard

Montessori Today by Paula Polk Lillard