Montessori Philosophy

According to Maria Montessori, "A child's work is to create the person she/he will become." Children are born with mental powers which aid them in their own development. However, they cannot complete the task of self-construction without purposeful movement, exploration, and discovery of their environment - both the things and people within it. They must be given the freedom to develop physically, intellectually, and spiritually. The "Freedom Within Limits"atmosphere of a Montessori classroom provides an environment which nurtures a sense of order and self-discipline.

    Basic to Montessori's philosophy is her discovery of Sensitive Periods in a child's development. During these periods children seek certain stimuli with immense intensity, to the exclusion of all others. It is during these times that a child can most easily master a particular learning skill. Montessori materials are devised especialy lto aid children in each Sensitive Period. It is the responsibility of the teacher to recognize these periods in individual children and put them in touch with the appropriate materials in the classroom environment.

      Montessori education continually changes to adapt to each child's naturally occuring Sensitive Periods.. Montessori described these periods as Planes of Development, which occur in approximately six year intervals, each of which is further subdivided into three year segments. These Planes of Development are the basis for the three-year age groupings found in Montessori school classes: ages three to six; six to nine; nine to twelve; and twelve to fifteen.