What is a Montessori Education?

“Education … must take a new path, seeking the release of human potentialities.”

Dr Maria Montessori

Dr. Maria Montessori was a physician, anthropologist and educator who studied children of all ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds for over fifty years. Her intense scientific observation of the human being from birth to maturity allowed her to distil a body of philosophical, psychological and teaching principles. These, together with a vast range of self-teaching materials, came to be known as Montessori Education.

The Montessori approach involves…

Choosing a Montessori setting for your child offers numerous advantages. Montessori education is well-known for its focus on personalised learning and fostering independence. It also promotes empathy, a commitment to fairness, and a love for continuous learning.

How does this work?

Every child is valued as an individual. Montessori recognizes that children learn differently and adjusts to various learning styles. Students progress at their own speed, guided by teachers and personalised plans.

Montessori starts early to develop order, focus, and self-reliance. Careful classroom setup and routines help children learn to regulate themselves from toddlerhood to adolescence.

Students form a tight-knit, supportive community. In mixed-age classrooms, older kids mentor younger ones, creating a family-like atmosphere. Teachers model respect and peaceful conflict resolution.

Self-correction and reflection are key. As students mature, they learn to evaluate their work critically, fixing mistakes and learning from them.

Students have freedom within boundaries. They actively participate in deciding what to learn, within guidelines set by teachers and classmates.

Montessori fosters curiosity and self-discovery. Teachers provide hands-on learning environments where students can explore their own questions, leading to a joyous, lifelong love of learning.

Beyond academics, Montessori education places a strong, holistic emphasis on the social, emotional, and practical life skills of a child. It aims to nurture well-rounded individuals who not only excel academically but also develop into responsible, compassionate, and self-directed learners prepared for the challenges of the future.

Montessori offers a broad vision of education as an “aid to life.” It is designed to help children grow from childhood to maturity.

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