What Makes Montessori Special

Montessori is a theory of education founded by Italian doctor Maria Montessori.

In this approach to education, children are placed into a well-planned and structured environment that meets their individual needs, and allows them to develop at their own pace.

The children are free to follow their interests within this structure, which allows them to learn concepts spontaneously and naturally. Consequently, they are highly motivated to discover new things and work independently with the materials provided. This independence also helps foster good discipline and basic abilities.

There are three fundamental elements required in a Montessori approach to education. These are: 

Structured Environment

The structured environment is also known as the 'prepared environment', and this encompasses the physical aspect of the classroom, i.e. the arrangement and aesthetics of the areas used by the children, which focus on meeting the needs of the whole child. It is the teacher’s responsibility to prepare and maintain this space.

The materials in the class are arranged in areas, and the children have the freedom to move around an open-plan room to choose the activities they want, which also gives them a sense of empowerment. The shelves are low, so the children can independently take the material of their choice, and put it back when they are finished. The external structure helps a child build its own internal order.

Montessori Curriculum

The curriculum is divided into five areas of learning that allow the children to absorb concepts spontaneously while they work freely and independently, as opposed to a traditional preschool structure where the focus is a group being taught by a teacher.