What Is Montessori?
Montessori is an educational philosophy focused on the total development of the child—social, emotional, intellectual, physical, cultural and spiritual.
Developed by Dr Maria Montessori in the early 20th century, it was considered a groundbreaking approach at the time. Today, with the benefit of research, this holistic educational method has been shown to be most beneficial for the child’s current development and as a preparation for their future learning. The Montessori approach has played a role in Australian education for over 100 years. In 2020, over 22,000 Montessori schools across the globe celebrated the 150th anniversary of Dr Maria Montessori’s birth.
The key outcomes of a Montessori education include:
Independence and tolerance with respect for the rights and needs of others.
Initiative and self-motivation, embedding effective work habits for the future.
Creative intelligence and imagination.
Confidence, self-esteem and a sense of achievement.
The Montessori philosophy is child-centred, based on mutual respect and cooperation, and provides a secure and ordered environment in which the child feels free to explore, discover and realise their potential.
The Montessori Difference
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Carefully prepared to meet students’ needs at each level of development.
Offers freedom to move, explore and interact, within limits.
Designed to support individualised learning.
Encourages self-motivation and time management.
Responsive and adaptive to students’ development.
Calm, ordered and respectful.
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Physical materials provide active, hands-on learning
Progress sequentially to support understanding of concepts from concrete to abstract.
Contain a built in control of error, allowing children to self-correct.
Promote independence, concentration and a sense of satisfaction.
Encourage children’s intrinsic motivation to learn
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Classes are mixed age, creating opportunities for leadership and peer teaching.
Students stay in one environment for three years, fostering strong bonds and a sense of ownership.
Focused on cooperation and collaboration, not competition.
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Cultivates the child as a full human being.
Instills universal values of respect, tolerance, compassion and responsibility.
Incorporates the development of practical life skills, promoting independence.
Promotes service to others and a global perspective.
Works in harmony with the stages of children’s physical, academic, social and emotional growth.
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Empathetic while providing clear and consistent limits.
Close observation allows teachers to respond effectively to learning and behavioural needs.
Work collaboratively with students as an educational resource.
Engage respectfully with students and model desired behaviours and attitudes.
Accept that children learn in different ways and at different paces, and adjust strategies and timeframes to individual needs.
