What is Montessori?

Montessori teachers are trained to support children's natural development by observing their unique interests and abilities. They introduce developmentally appropriate lessons and materials tailored to each child's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth.

They foster a nurturing environment that supports learning and growth while understanding human development. Our Lead Teachers undergo an in-depth training program to become certified Montessori educators. All training programs are run by accredited Montessori institutions such as The American Montessori Society (AMS), the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), or the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE). All our teachers continually enhance their expertise through professional development days and year-round Montessori-focused courses, fostering growth and a deeper understanding of the Montessori method.

A Montessori multi-age classroom offers:

• A leadership opportunity: Older students have the chance to mentor younger students while practicing their leadership skills. Mentoring will boost their confidence and independence in learning.
• A natural way of learning: Children learn differently: by teaching others, observing others working, or practicing what they have learned. Sometimes children learn more naturally from watching their older classmates. Simultaneously, older students benefit from teaching younger students because they can revisit familiar concepts.
• A growth mindset: While students are encouraged to learn at their own pace, they look up to their older classmates and aim to achieve their ability level. In the mixed-age classroom, students understand that knowledge and skills can grow, change, and develop with hard work and effort.

One of the easiest ways to recognize a Montessori classroom is by the iconic Montessori materials children work with. The Montessori materials are hands-on learning tools that allow children to discover key learning outcomes through repetition and practice. Each material focuses on one skill and supports independent learning and problem-solving.

They are often made of wood, a natural, safe, and durable material that provides a sensory experience for children. These materials are arranged within their curriculum area (Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Math, Cultural Studies) and are arranged from left to right in order of progression.

Montessori education empowers children to choose meaningful and challenging activities that spark their interest, fostering engagement, intrinsic motivation, focused attention, and a sense of responsibility toward themselves and others.

In a Montessori classroom, children are encouraged to move freely, explore, and work at their own pace through hands-on experiences. Teachers guide children's learning while maintaining a respectful, orderly, and productive environment. Thanks to their ownership in their work and learning process, children become lifelong lovers of learning.

In Montessori schools, students have an allocated amount of time dedicated to Montessori work, called an uninterrupted work period or cycle. Students can complete different tasks and responsibilities at their own pace during this time. While the work will look different for each age group, children should have ample time allotted for the uninterrupted work period at all program levels. With a three-hour work cycle, Primary children can:

• Fully experience the environment
• Reach deep levels of uninterrupted concentration
• Work with multiple materials across several subject areas
• Work individually and in small groups

Infants and Toddlers typically work in one or two-hour work cycles.