FAQS

Who was Maria Montessori?

Born in 1870, Maria Montessori was Italy's first woman M.D. and became an Ardent advocate of the rights of both women and children during the first half of the twentieth century.  She developed her interests in the education of the very young child, and devoted her life to the education of children.  At the time of her death in 1952, she had been nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize and was honored and respected throughout the world.

What is the Montessori Method?

The Montessori Method is an approach to learning which emphasizes the potential of the young child, and which devolops this potential by means of a unique teaching method; utilizing specially trained teachers and special teaching materials.  It is a method of teaching that develops the intellect and stability of a child, beginning with the three year old.

How do children do when transferring from a Montessori school to a traditional setting? 

Children who begin Montessori at an early age seem to adjust rapidly to many different types of schools.  The skills learned in the Montessori enviroment, such as self direction, initiative, self-disipline and independence, are easily adaptable to most situations.

The following ideas are excerpted from The Authentic American Montessori School: A Guide to the Self-Study, Evaluation, and Accreditation of American Schools Committed to Montessori Education, by Dr. Nancy McCormick Rambush and Dr. John Stoops, published in 1992 by the Commission on Elementary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and by the American Montessori Society.

The Montessori Learning Environment
A Child-Centered Environment. The focus of activity in the Montessori setting is on children's learning, not on teacher's teaching. Generally students will work individually or in small, self-selected groups.

A Focus on Individual Progress and Development
Within a Montessori program, children progress at their own pace, moving on to the next step in each area of learning as they are ready. While the child lives within a larger community of children, each student is viewed as a universe of one.

Freedom Within Limits
Montessori children enjoy considerable freedom of movement and choice; however, their freedom always exists within carefully defined limits on the range of their behavior. They are free to do anything appropriate to the ground rules of the community, but they are redirected promptly and firmly if they cross over the line.

  A Family Setting
Montessori classrooms are communities of children and adults. As children grow older and more capable, they assume a great role in helping to care for the environment and meeting the needs of younger children in the class. The focus is less on the teachers and more on the entire community of children and adults, much like one finds in a real family.