What is Montessori Education?

What is Montessori Education?
Montessori education is designed to help children with their task of inner construction as they grow from childhood to maturity. It succeeds because it draws its principles from the natural development of the child. The inherent flexibility allows the method to adapt to the needs of the individual, regardless of the level of ability, learning style or social maturity.

The Montessori Approach
"I have studied the child. I have taken what the child has given me and expressed it and that is what is called the Montessori method."

The Prepared Environment
Montessori classrooms provide a prepared environment where children are free to respond to their natural tendency to work.  The prepared environment offers the essential elements for optimal development. The key components comprise the children, teacher and physical surroundings including the specifically designed Montessori educational material.

The Montessori Teacher-(Guide)
[Montessori] teachers are selected for their professional talents and their constant and loving concern for the children in their charge. The trained guide is an artful organizer of experiences for the child to discover, process and practice. Constant and ongoing observation by the guide is the foundation of the Montessori program.


Thank you to Childpeace Montessori School of Portland, Oregon for their kind permission to re-print this article.