Montessori Children's Center,

The Montessori method is a philosophy and system of education developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator. It is based on her scientific observations of young children’s learning styles. Dr. Montessori realized that children learn more by doing – by touching and seeing and smelling and tasting and exploring – than just by listening. She created and provided a variety of unique learning materials for young children, and prepared an environment that would foster learning in all areas. She believed that multi-age classrooms were important in helping children of various stages of development to learn from and with each other. Her educational methods emphasize the overall development of inner-motivation, self-confidence, individual abilities and self-discipline.

At The Montessori School, teachers trained in Montessori philosophy and technique prepare dynamic learning environments that encourage each child to reason, to cooperate, to collaborate, to negotiate, and to understand. The teachers goal is to guide the development and competency of the individual child by serving as the facilitator for environment, giving a lesson and stepping back to allow the child to work, while observing and directing each child to the materials appropriate for his/her need. Each classroom offers a wide variety of Montessori materials, current educational supplies, and handmade materials. Children are free to move toward work which stimulates and satisfies their inner motivations. The Montessori curriculum is organized as a continuum with one step building precisely on the previous one (spanning 3 to 4 years). The concept of mixed ages promotes an atmosphere of cooperation, teamwork, and peer teaching. The design of the materials and the structure of the tasks leads children to development of self discipline.