The Montessori Philosophy
The Montessori Philosophy was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, one of the first female physicians in Italy, over 100 years ago. Her observations and findings regarding child development are all still relevant today. The materials that she developed for the first Casa di Bambini (Children’s House) are still used in all Montessori classrooms around the world.
Some over-arching beliefs in the Montessori Philosophy are the concepts of:
The Absorbent Mind
From birth to the age of around 6, children have a mind that is able to take in everything that is around them, almost subconsciously. Language, movement, as well as information about the world around them, is all absorbed by their minds like a sponge.
Sensitive Periods
During a sensitive period, a child’s mind is much more open to taking in certain kinds of information. These periods have a range in which they can emerge in each child’s developmental journey. Trained teachers in the Montessori classroom spot these sensitive periods and offer lessons to children based on their sensitive periods. Image is from https://www.thekavanaughreport.com/2020/05/sensitive-periods-from-birth-to-6-chart.html
Follow the Child
Observations of individual children will reveal their interests, their sensitive periods and which types of activities will be most effective at the moment. Individualized lesson plans in the classroom are based on these observations and ensure that the teachers can sustain a child’s curiosity and create a lifelong love of learning.
Montessori classrooms are places where children thrive, in carefully prepared environments and with teachers (or adult guides) who have undergone intense training. All of the works, lessons, and routines in the classroom include the following characteristics:
Care
Care of self, care of others and care of the environment: these are the three main “rules” of our community. Children are taught lessons in being able to take care of themselves, such as dressing, sewing and hand-washing. They are also taught how to food prep and serve each other snack. Our indoor spaces have pets and plants, with daily jobs of feeding and watering them.
Coordination
Gross motor, fine motor and everything in between! Children are given ample opportunity to move at our school, both indoors and outdoors. The works in our classroom may involve moving a table closer to the sink for washing. They may also focus on the pincer grip: strengthening the hand for writing as they get older.
Order
Order is built into everything we do at the school, the works, the routines as well as a place for every object in the classroom. As the children move through the works, they focus on putting objects in order with sorting and grading them. All work is done from left to right in order to train the eye for reading as they get older.
Independence
Any job that can be done by the children is taught to the children! In addition to being responsible for their own bodies and belongings, they can also help keep their classroom home clean and tidy. They help sweep, wash windows and fold the laundry whenever they realize those chores need to be done!
Contact
P.O. Box 5606
(67 Trescott Road)
Hanover, NH 03755