Knoxville Montessori School

The basic principle of the Montessori philosophy of education is that each child carries within him or her the potential of the person he or she can become. In order for the child to develop physical, intellectual and emotional powers to the fullest, the child must be given freedom. The Montessori approach believes this freedom is best achieved through a combination of order and self-discipline.

Dr. Maria Montessori was an Italian physician and educator. She developed what she called the prepared environment in which the child is encouraged to work at his or her own speed according to his or her own capabilities. Within this carefully structured environment, the child gradually acquires a sense of physical and mental order. This sense of order expresses itself in the child as a sense of responsibility toward his or her environment. In this way the Montessori child learns to respect other things and other people.

The aim of the Montessori method is to develop the whole child. Intellectual, physical and social development are of equal value in the prepared environment. The teacher strives to encourage and guide the child and to help him or her to realize a balanced, happy, aware personality that will enhance his or her ability to deal with any environment.

Dr. Montessori recognized that true learning results from the self-motivation of the child. The Montessori teacher acts primarily as a facilitator preparing the environment, programming activities, and offering the child stimulation and guidance. The child learns and is motivated by the work itself. The teacher is the catalytic agent and role model. In this way the child is able to develop in his or her own time rather than in a preconceived developmental timeframe.

Not only do Montessori children develop strong self-concepts, they also acquire the courtesy and respect for others that forms the basis for socialization. In this way Montessori classrooms function as a community. Each class has a range of ages and skill levels. Thus the younger child is exposed to more advanced work performed by older classmates and the older child has the advantage of teaching skills to younger children. The general limit of one piece of each equipment requires the students to learn patience, sharing, and a respect for the needs of others. This classroom dynamic allows the positive aspects of the childs personality to assert themselves and become habit.

Guided by this philosophy, Knoxville Montessori School seeks to enable students to realize their full potential both as responsible citizens of their community and as life-long scholars by introducing dynamic learning experiences according to the Montessori Method.