The Montessori classroom seeks to provide each child with a structured environment in which he can freely develop. Structure is important in order to set boundries which help the child focus on the task at hand. Freedom is necessary in order for each child to be able to develop at his own pace. And thirdly, action is necessary. It is only through direct manipulation of the environment that significant learning can occur. Through actual experiences with concrete objects the child discovers relationships and concepts which can later be abstracted.
The Montessori materials stimulate a young child's natural desire to learn, guiding him in a series of successful steps to confident, independent study habits.
Practical life activities encourage independence by helping the child to care for himself and his environment, to develop self-control, and to learn consideration for others.
The sensorial materials help the child to clarify and classify differences in the world. These exercies form the base for all future learning experiences.
Sandpaper letter, moveable alphabets, metal insets, and phonics, provide the child with keys to the rich and varied world of language.
The knowledge of numbers is based on understanding, not on memory disconnected from actual fact, and provides a basis for later abstract thinking.
Art, music, history, science, and geography are included in the daily activities of the program. Social development takes place naturally within a flexible program geared to the individual rates of progress. With an emphasis on cooperation rather than competition, a spirit of joy and enthusiasm permeates the classroom.
