Philosophy

The following information is provided by the American Montessori Society and provides general information about Montessori philosophy and methodology. We encourage you to visit the American Montessori Society website at www.amshq.org.

What is Montessori?
The Montessori method was developed from Dr. Maria Montessori's clinical observations that children build themselves from what they find in their environment. Her continuing work with children of all levels of capability led her to realize what was to become the cornerstone of Montessori education: To inspire a lifelong love of learning and develop responsible, caring, self-motivated citizens, one only had to nurture and guide the natural tendencies of children. Every piece of equipment, every exercise, every method Montessori developed was based on what she observed children to do "naturally", by themselves, unassisted by adults.

A Montessori education is therefore based on an education framework that:
- Supports and respects each individual's unique development,
- Fulfills the needs of the "whole child" to include development of social skills and emotional and physical coordination, along with academic growth,
- Engages the child in activity with a purpose, rather than simply being fed information, and
- Recognizes that a successful learning environment includes careful preparation, not just of materials, but of the physical classroom, social climate, and the teacher.

Since a key Montessori component is the careful preparation of a successful learning environment, Montessori teachers must complete extensive training. A minimum of a full year of Montessori training, following a baccalaureate degree, is required for full AMS credential. This includes a year of student teaching, under supervision, in the age group with which a teacher will work: infant, toddler, primary, elementary, or secondary level. This specialized training qualifies the teacher to properly function as a designer of the environment, resource person, role model, demonstrator, record-keeper, and meticulous observer of the child's behavior and growth.

How does it work?
Each Montessori classroom, from birth through high school, operates on the principle of freedom with limits. Every program has its own set of ground rules, which differ from age to age, but are always based on core Montessori beliefs - respect for each other and the environment.

Children are free to work at their own pace with materials they have chosen, either alone or with others. The teacher relies on his or her observations of the children to determine which new activities and materials may be introduced to an individual child, or to a small or large group. The aim is to encourage active, self-directed learning and to strike a balance of individual mastery with small group collaboration within the whole group community.

The multi-year span in each class provides a family-like grouping where learning can take place naturally. More experienced children share what they have learned while reinforcing their own learning. Because this peer group learning is intrinisic to Montessori, there is often more conversation - language experiences - in the Montessori classroom than in conventional early education settings.

American Montessori Society publication 'It Is Necessary - It Is Montessori: A Montessori Education Questions and Answers' brochure. Duplicated with permission on September 8, 2005

Please visit our Montessori Resources page to see a list of recommended reading and resources from which you can find out more about Montessori education and discover if it is right for your family.

Download American Montessori Society publication: 'Some Comparisons of Montessori Education with Traditional Education'

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