Maria Montessori
“In our plan for the education of little children we must create an attractive environment. Into this environment we must put everything that is good for the mind, along with an understanding and affectionate person. ”
Responsibility
When children are included in household activities, they may shy away from the responsibility at first. However, over time, children grow comfortable, taking on a more prominent role in being partially responsible for the household. The Montessori method puts children in situations where they can add depth to their tasks with the guidance of a teacher.
At a young age, children can be responsible in the household for a multitude of tasks. Montessori schools teach students to care for the environment – this includes the learning environment, the home, and the earth. Students at Elevate Montessori even learn about gardening!
Beyond Academics
Academic excellence is only one aspect of a child’s development. Unfortunately, it is often the only one focused on in traditional education settings. That means the rest of the child’s development and well-being are not being nurtured and cultivated. This practice produces an education system that is unbalanced and does not provide a margin for creativity and individualized attention. When exposed to the Montessori method, students learn skills that apply to life outside of academic education to help them navigate as a caring, informed person in the world.
These life skills include grace and courtesy; being environmental stewards; celebration of individuality; peaceful conflict resolution, and much more!
Reading
Montessori graduates know how to read and write before going into kindergarten. Kindergarten Teachers instruct their students on reading and writing, but only within the strict framework of traditional methods. Students who require more time learning these necessary skills are left behind by this system.
Through activities that encourage a gradual introduction to letters, sounds, writing, word building, and reading, Montessori students learn and remember each concept better. For example, in the sandboard activity, students learn the shape of letters by tracing them with their fingers on textured boards. Students are shown to trace the letters in the same way they are written to prepare them for writing. Students learn the sound of the letter as well. Students are introduced to letter names later, though. For better retention, students only learn the letter sounds at this point.
Individualized
At Montessori schools, students learn concepts through hands-on, self-directed discovery. One example of this idea is the Numbers and Counters activity. Students place the numbers 1-10 in order on a work mat. Then, students place the correct amount of “counter” dots underneath the number and say the number’s name out loud. This activity helps children to understand what numbers look like, counting order, and what amounts the numbers signify.
Teachers work alongside students, coaching them along the way, as opposed to traditional teaching methods where the teacher would be instructing in front of the student. Students learn the concepts as they discover them on their own, rather than passively receiving a transfer of knowledge. This student-teacher relationship allows for creativity in problem-solving.
The Montessori Advantage
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Prepared Environment
The classroom is structured with a sense of order, where everything has a purpose and a place. Furniture is child-sized, and learning materials are designed to fit in children’s hands. Classroom contents and centers are continually rotated and adjusted to assure child interaction and interest.
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Hands-On Learning
Children are engaged in activities like sorting objects, conducting experiments, and using self-correcting materials. Children will learn to work individually as well as alongside others. Through sharing, interacting, and touch play, children learn to work within an environment of cooperation.
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Individualized Instruction
Children are free to follow their interests and choose their work, progressing at their own pace. Special guest and experiences will allow for the continued expansion of areas of interest and learning.
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Highly Trained Teacher
The teacher offers age-appropriate activities to guide the process. Our teachers utilize ongoing advanced education training and continuously observe and alter the learning environment as needed.
The environment and curriculum are overseen by our director to keep consistency and direction throughout the entire program.
