What is the Montessori Method?

It is important to note that Alderwood House is not a Montessori school. Our philosophy is a Reggio-inspired philosophy, and while Montessori materials may be used in various classes at our school, they are not used in a traditional way or with a Montessori philosophy. However, given the number of questions parents often have about Montessori, we have provided the following introduction to the Montessori method. This reference can serve to clarify some of the differences between the Montessori philosophy and other educational philosophies.

"No human being is educated by another person. He must do it himself, or it will never be done. A truly educated individual continues to learn after he has left the classroom because he is motivated from within by a natural curiosity and love for knowledge." - Dr. Maria Montessori

The Montessori approach embraces the individual needs of each unique child and the intrinsic curiosity and desire to learn within children. It was originally developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in her work with special needs children at the turn of the century, and is based on her observations in her field research. The Montessori method is an educational approach that is used throughout the world, and Montessori schools range from traditional Montessori to simply utilizing the Montessori materials within the classroom, to having a child-scale environment. "Montessori" is not a restricted term, and any school can call themselves a Montessori school.

Working independently and at their own pace with Montessori materials designed to facilitate learning skills, the child follows their own academic path. This approach encourages self-confidence and self-motivation. Children have control over materials to work with, and as they master different activities, the child feels confident and successful, eventually becoming a leader within the classroom for younger children. Montessori classrooms are mixed-age classrooms, and work is primarily individualized. Traditional Montessori schools do not have an 'arts' area, however many non-traditional schools combine traditional Montessori methods with Arts and Crafts areas.

Two important principles in the Montessori method are the "absorbent mind" and the "sensitive periods."

The absorbent mind refers to the child's ability to learn from simply interacting with their environment.

Sensitive periods are transitory times during development when the child appears more focused on certain aspects of the environment than others. It is important to capture these periods, and allow children to explore aspects of learning while they are sensitive to them. In the Montessori classroom the sensitive periods guide the teacher in the development of activities for children.

The "prepared environment" supports self-directed learning. Teachers provide resources and opportunities for children to function in safe, positive surroundings, providing them the trust to try new things and build self-confidence. Children are able to truly become independent in this environment - for example, if the child spills milk at lunch time, child sized mops, sponges and cloths are available for the child to clean up after themselves. Children learn to take care of themselves and the environment, building confidence, respect for others and learning grace and courtesy: returning materials from where they were found, pushing chairs back under the table, and saying please and thank you when appropriate.