Montessori & Our Principles
What is Montessori Education?
Montessori is a method of education that is personalized to each child’s learning style, stage of development, and interests. Children develop complete academic and well-being foundations through hands-on experience, real-world application, and problem-solving using the Montessori Method of education.
The Montessori Method of Education
Montessori is a method of education that was developed by Doctor Maria Montessori. It’s worldwide and has proven successful for more than 100 years. It offers a broad view of education as an aid and a preparation for life.
Maria Montessori started her career as a Doctor; however, through her work with underprivileged children, she moved from medicine to education. She used her training as a scientist to observe how children learn and applied this to develop a better way to educate children with astounding results.
In 1907, Doctor Maria Montessori opened her first Casa Dei Bambini’ or ‘Children’s House’ for young children who weren’t old enough to attend school. Within one year of applying her new method of education, many of her students were able to read, write, and do basic mathematics. News of her success spread across Europe, and the Montessori Method, as it came to be known, took off worldwide.
What’s most unique about Montessori is the prepared environment, which is also known as the Montessori classroom. It’s unlike anything you would see in a standard childcare center because it’s filled with educational materials that link learning outcomes to children’s needs and interests at specific stages of their development.
Each material teaches a specific learning outcome that progressively builds children’s knowledge and skills. Through repetition and practice, children master the five areas of the Montessori Curriculum, which include: Practical Life, Sensorial, Mathematics, Language, and Culture.
The role of the Montessori educator within this space is to observe what children are drawn to and introduce them to the materials that link to those interests, so learning is always purposeful and engaging.
This is why Montessori works. It recognizes that children learn in different ways, and at different paces, and Montessori meets them where they’re at. It provides children with a learning environment where they have respect, independence, and the freedom to direct their own learning experience. This results in high levels of motivation to learn, and children who love learning, naturally apply themselves and do well.
The 7 Tenets of Our Montessori Experience at The Bilingual Montessori Lab Academy
1. Holistic Development vs. Core Competence
Montessori education values the emotional, social, physical, and cognitive needs which are essential for the development of the whole child.
Traditional systems of education value teaching children mastery of skills and test performance.
“Children learn naturally through activity and their characters develop through freedrom.”
– Dr. Maria Montessori
2. Self Discipline vs. Teacher Directed Discipline
In Montessori, the learning structure and prepared environment of the classroom promote motivation and self-discipline through freedom coupled with responsability.
In traditional education, the teacher disciplines and encourages motivation using a system of external rewards and punishments.
3. Cooperation vs Competition
Mixed-age classrooms and self-directed learning encourage cooperation and the development of social skills in a Montessori classroom.
Individual learning graded by the teacher; collaboration and cooperation are secondary in a traditional classroom.
4. Concentration vs. Completion
Long work periods in a Montessori classroom allow children to focus on deep learning.
Tightly scheduled days in a traditional classroom value completion of teacher-directed work.
5. Active vs. Passive Learning
The child moves freely around the Montessori classroom, choosing her own work — and the pace at which she does it — while being guided by the teacher.
The child listens to and follows directions from the teacher who sets the pace of instruction in a traditional classroom.
6. Self Motivation vs. External Motivation
Montessori education prioritizes self-motivation and individualized learning in a structured environment, while traditional education relies on external motivation and uniform schedules, often suppressing natural enthusiasm.
7. Spanish Immersion
Using the hand-on, concrete experience based Montessori tenants of education, the child is immersed in the second language. Experience becomes language and culture becomes newfound communication. Delivered at their own pace, guided with nurturing support.