MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY

WHAT IS THE MONTESSORI METHOD?

Building on your child’s natural learning

Dr Maria Montessori was the first female physician in Italy, a highly successful educator, and the founder of the Montessori method of education. From her many decades of observation and active teaching, Dr Montessori developed a philosophy of learning that has shaped many millions of educators around the world.

WHAT MAKES A MONTESSORI PRE-SCHOOL OR EARLY EDUCATION CENTRE DIFFERENT?

The Montessori method focuses on observed learning with a fully child-led philosophy.

The main idea is that when a child is introduced to a well-prepared environment, they are naturally able to learn. The Montessori method of education gives children unique opportunities to learn more thoroughly without distraction and efficiently through experience, guidance and practice. The teacher in a Montessori environment plays the role of a ‘guide’, someone who is there to offer a framework for the child’s own interests and passions. The Montessori environment provides a safe, calm, carefully designed setting for optimal learning that nurtures the physical and spiritual being.

Montessori historically has
a deep-seated belief about the integration of ages, encouraging socially-led learning which is passed from older children through to the younger ages.

We encourage interaction between the different age groups across our centre in many ways, and you’ll find our older children passing their knowledge on to the younger children in organic and completely natural ways. Our centre is licensed for 73 children and our rooms are formed around ages & stages. We do this as we want to respect our children's learning & allow for concentration and space for our older tamariki to learn as they need to, in preparation for the school years. Our external areas enhance further social development and strengthen the bonds between the children in our centre.

Montessori’s learning philosophy can be best broken down into these main points:

ONE

RESPECT FOR THE CHILD

Leading by example, and allowing children to express themselves in a safe, calm environment is one of the basic principles behind much of Montessori’s methodology.

TWO

THE ABSORBENT MIND

Montessori believes that all children will naturally learn, and that it is simply a case of providing them with an environment and a guide (teacher) to assist.

THREE

SENSITIVE PERIODS

Recognising a child’s most receptive developmental phases is key to the Montessori learning system.

FOUR

THE PREPARED ENVIRONMENT

The prepared and orderly environment of a Montessori early learning centre will give freedom and creative expression to a child.

FIVE

AUTO-EDUCATION

Auto-education, or self-learning, is what happens throughout a child’s early years, and on into primary school and beyond. Children continue to teach themselves: our role is simply to guide their learning as best we can.

Of course, there are many more facets to a Montessori education – we’d love to show you our centre and explain our philosophy and how we do things in more detail. So please get in touch today.