Montessori
“Whoever touches the life of the child touches the most sensitive point of a whole which has roots in the most distant past and climbs toward the infinite future.” —Maria Montessori
What is Montessori?
Montessori is a brain-based developmental education method that allows children to make creative choices in how they discover the people, places and knowledge of the world. It emphasizes hands-on learning, self-expression and collaborative work in a beautifully crafted environment of respect, peace and joy. -Dr. Steven J. Hughes, Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, and Chair of AMI’s Global Research Committee
Montessori education follows the child. It answers the native curiosity of children by connecting them with lessons and manipulative learning materials. This happens in a scientifically designed classroom scaled to the child’s physical size. In this prepared environment, any interest or intellectual curiosity can be steered into productive educational inquiry. Instead of delivering information, adults make continual assessments of each child’s developmental readiness. From the earliest age children learn to concentrate on meaningful real-life tasks. Under the watchful eye of a trained teacher, this purposeful work leads to inner discipline and responsible choice-making. Owning their environment, children become helpful citizens of a classroom community, respecting others, caring for materials, and maintaining an atmosphere of peaceful living. – Dr. Larry Quade, BGMS Pedagogy Advisor and an AMI Auxiliary Teacher Trainer at the Primary level
Here is an example of a Montessori Children’s House classroom.
Helpful Montessori Resources
For additional information regarding Montessori Education look through the websites below.
- American Montessori Society
- Association Montessori Internationale (AMI)
- North American Montessori Teachers’ Association (NAMTA)
- http://www.forsmallhands.com
- http://www.montessoriservices.com
- http://www.kidadvance.com
- http://www.nienhuis.com
- http://www.montessorioutlet.com
- http://www.montessori-n-such.com