Considering Montessori? Here’s What to Look For

If you find yourself considering Montessori education as an option for your family, you undoubtedly have plenty of questions. If you take one thought away from this article let it be this: anyone can call their school “Montessori”. There is no regulation on use of the name. If you have read articles and heard stories from other families about the incredible benefits of this method of education, they are absolutely the result of a high fidelity Montessori program. Read on to learn more about what to look for. 

What’s in a name?

Throughout her life, Dr. Maria Montessori strove to retain a certain level of control over the course the Montessori movement took. It was, after all, her life’s work and bore her name. She wanted to be sure that guides were trained correctly, methods were applied as she intended, and a complete set of authentic materials graced the shelves of classrooms. Today, there are two major organizations that carry on her work and are generally regarded as the standard for Montessori education. They are AMI (Association Montessori International), which was created by Dr. Montessori herself, and AMS (American Montessori Society), which branched off from AMI in 1960. Today the two organizations maintain a positive working relationship and mutual respect for the work they both do, which is to carry on the legacy of Dr. Montessori and ensure visionary, high-quality education for children.

Recognition, Affiliation, and Accreditation

If you are looking for a high fidelity Montessori program (which is critical if you want your child to reap the benefits!), it’s important to find a school that is connected to either AMI or AMS. There are different levels of connection, depending on how closely a school aligns their work with what is considered ideal. Hollis Montessori School is recognized by AMI.

To obtain Recognition Status through AMI, a school must undertake a rigorous multi-year process that begins with a self-study and culminates with an in-person visit by an AMI consultant. A specific set of criteria must be met, including having 100% of lead teachers being trained through an AMI sponsored teacher training program. If a school meets all criteria, but has a lower percentage of AMI trained teachers, the school may be considered AMI Affiliated or AMI Associated. Schools must reapply for recognition status on an annual basis with an AMI consultant visit every three years.

To become accredited through AMS a school must undertake a similar self-study process with a three day in-person site visit by AMS representatives. Schools must go through the accreditation process at least once every seven years.

Specifically Trained Educators

Montessori guides (the term we often use for our teachers) are specially trained. In addition to college degrees they have obtained, they have also earned special Montessori credentials from recognized training programs. Many of these programs run for several years, include many hours of lectures and reading, practical examinations, written papers, material making assignments, and multiple observations in classroom settings. Many people consider the level of work required for obtaining such a credential to be similar to that required for earning a master’s degree.

Multi-Age Groupings

One of the most important elements of a Montessori school is that the classes are organized not by single chronological year classes, but into multi-age mixed groups. This approach is intentional and critical to higher levels of learning. Children ages three to five (preschool and kindergarten) are grouped together, as are elementary-aged children. Some schools break the elementary years up into lower (grades 1-3) and upper (grades 4-6) while others keep them all together. Infants, toddlers, and adolescents are also placed into similarly mixed groups.

Why do we do this? There are many reasons. For one, younger children have no shortage of models to surround themselves with. They can see what is expected of them as they grow, both socially and academically, and they work to emulate what they see older children doing. As for the older children, they are given the unique opportunity to practice leadership skills and cultivate empathy for younger children. In addition, they often help teach, which reinforces their own mastery of subjects.

The Classroom Environment

There is much to be said for the Montessori classroom environment - more than we could possibly summarize in a paragraph or two here. That said, we can certainly highlight the most critical features you should look for in a well-run program.

• Classrooms will feature ample natural light and children will have access to the outdoors.

• Furniture will be sized for the children who are meant to use it, and there will be a variety of different furniture options. This means in lieu of desks in rows, you should see group  work areas, independent work areas, and space to work comfortably on the floor.

• Natural materials like wood, glass, and woven baskets should take the place of plastics.

• Specialized Montessori materials should be well organized and adorn shelves at the children’s height.

• The room may be decorated with living plants and carefully hung works of art. You should not see walls covered with posters or busy color schemes.

• It should be apparent that the guide is not the center of the room, but rather serves as an element of support for the children who work there.

• Children should have free access to take care of their own personal needs, such as using the restroom, serving themselves snacks, having drinks of water, and retrieving all materials necessary to explore and work.

We hope this article has been a helpful guide as you embark on your journey into Montessori education. If you have any questions or would like any guidance, please feel free to contact us.

New Research: Music in Montessori Classrooms

Montessori-based research is a fairly new field of study, but interest is increasing. The following is a summary of a recent published study that addressed concerns in the area of Montessori music education in primary classrooms. We found it fascinating, and we thought you might, too!

The Research Study

Click here to read the full published article.

Diana R. Dansereau of Boston University and Brooke M. Wyman of Bristol, Rhode Island published their article entitled: A Child-Directed Music Curriculum in the Montessori Classroom this past spring. They wanted to address a perceived disparity in the types of sensory materials offered to children in Montessori primary classrooms. More specifically, they gathered data suggesting that over time, modern Montessori classrooms have come to rely more heavily on visual sensory materials than materials that teach children to refine their other senses (including discrimination for sound).

Numerous studies, along with the work of Dr. Montessori herself, have indicated that early childhood exposure to music education and auditory sensory discrimination education have overwhelmingly positive and powerful impacts on children. Just as with other areas of study and skills that must be mastered, it appears that there is a sensitive period for learning music that ends prior to age 7. This means that while of course children have an ability to learn music after that age, they are in a prime position to master those skills earlier.

The researchers noted that Dr. Montessori herself had concerns about the application of her music materials in the classroom. For example, only one set of sound-based materials could be used at a time, and to identify variations in sound one would need to work in relative silence. This was certainly challenging during her time, and seemingly impossible now. Dansereau and Wyman set out to create and test a solution.

“...we sought to answer the question “How is a curriculum of music- and sound-based works developed, implemented, and received in a Montessori classroom?”

— Dansereau and Wyman

Dansereau, being a music teacher, early childhood music education researcher, and Montessori parent, and Wyman, being a Montessori primary guide, were in a perfect position to conduct the study. Their initial conversations included Wyman’s students, other primary teachers, and the head of school. Six shelf works were designed and tested. They included the use of a small plastic box with a battery, power switch, headphone jack, and a series of visually identical plastic discs. A child wears the headphones and replaces the discs one at a time to hear different sounds. The materials are briefly described below:

1. For working memory and audiation (sound memory) - A wooden tree with spaces for removable discs. Children would listen to the sounds on each disc, then place them in order according to pitch. The material contained a built-in control of error so that children could independently check for accuracy.

2. For pitch direction - Children listened to discs that played sliding pitches, then matched what they heard to visual pictures with lines drawn accordingly.

3. For pitch direction - Similar to the second work, children replaced the two-dimensional pictures with a three-dimensional manipulative.

4. For melodic direction - While listening to a recording of a piano, children used a small toy kangaroo to travel across a three-dimensional path along with the music.

5. For melodic direction - Similar to the previous work, children listened to trombone music instead.

Wyman presented each material to the group using traditional Montessori methods, after which they were placed on the shelves for independent use. Students were observed and data was collected in six cycles over a period of two years.

During the course of the work Wyman noted: “What I have witnessed so far with the two materials we have piloted is an overwhelming need for more of this type of work. The children in my current class have demonstrated a deeper level of concentration with this work. In part, I am sure [it is] because of the use of their auditory sense: if they are distracted by others in the classroom, listening to their friends, or carrying on a conversation, they will miss the very essence of the work. What I find fascinating is that this work must be fulfilling an essential need, because even my most social children go to the material and tune everything else out.”

Overall, the researchers noted their data indicated positive findings. The children became more engaged with music education, they interacted positively with the materials, their confidence increased, and there were obvious signs of deep concentration. They did note some limitations, such as the inability to record all interactions with the materials due to the nature of a Montessori classroom environment, as well as the children’s understanding that the materials were somewhat novel in nature. They felt that some of the materials were more beneficial than others, or that adjustments may need to be made with one or two of the materials.

Dansereau and Wyman felt the study was a positive initial step in addressing the disparity in sensory materials in the Montessori primary classroom. They were encouraged by the results and believe more research should be done in this area, including with classrooms that serve children of varied demographics. 

We are curious to hear your thoughts on this topic. What might next steps be in individual Montessori classrooms? Could the materials be replicated? Could others be introduced? How might we, as educators, ensure we are providing more balanced sensory instruction?

Why Choose Montessori?

We know parents have choices when it comes to their children’s education. We know these choices are not easy. There are many factors to weigh, but we hope this article will help you make an informed decision at least as far as Montessori is concerned. Montessori education has been successfully serving children and families around the world for over a century. The basics remain - and for good reason. Our methods are consistently backed by current research in education and human development. As we move forward into a new future, we believe Montessori has what it takes to prepare children.

Montessori Meets Children Where They Are, Without Judgement

Conventional methods of education were developed specifically to prepare large numbers of children to enter the workforce. Traditionally, little thought has been given to differentiating instruction or catering to the needs of individual children. That has been changing in recent years, but many schools are still in the early years of personalizing education.

Montessori schools are specifically designed to allow each child to move at their own pace. We know that learning is not linear, and that children are not ready to learn specific skills according to an adult-prepared timeline, or in perfect harmony with their peers. Kids who need more support with certain skills get that support, and those who are ready to move ahead are able to find the challenges they crave. We do not teach a whole class of children the same skill at the same time; that may seem more efficient from the perspective of an adult tasked with teaching, but it’s not necessarily what serves the children the best. No two people should be expected to grow at the same rate, and it’s our job as educators to meet children where they are and give them the support they need to get where they want to be.

Montessori Emphasizes More Than Just Academics

Lots of people use the phrase ‘teaching to the whole child’ but in Montessori schools we mean that on a very deep level. We do not teach just to convey academic information. In fact, academics share equal emphasis with our efforts to develop other aspects of the child, including emotional, social, sensorial, and practical life development. We integrate the arts and movement into everything our children do, rather than isolating these areas of study into a separate class. We intentionally teach children how to navigate and resolve conflict and how to adhere to grace and courtesy social norms. 

Our greatest task is, we believe, to give children a global view of the world. We want them to understand the interconnectedness of all things so that they may be fully integrated members of their greater community as they grow and mature.

...But The Academics Are a Huge Strength 

The above mentioned being said, Montessori academics are often hailed as some of the highest standards there are. It is not uncommon to see four-year-olds in our schools reading, six-year-olds completing long division problems, and nine-year-olds classifying botanical specimens. These tasks are completed joyfully, in part because we present information in such a way that children discover it for themselves rather than passively taking in facts given by an adult.

Another reason Montessori students seem to work at an advanced academic level is because of what we call sensitive periods. Through years of observation, Dr. Maria Montessori noticed that young children seemed primed and particularly interested and ready to develop certain skills during very specific time periods. While, of course, there is variation between individual children, she noticed some general patterns that have helped us develop our curriculum. One interesting example is that of the study of geometry. Many of us were first exposed to the subject during our high school years, when it turns out that primary- and elementary-aged children are not only interested in geometry, but have a great capacity to learn far more than we typically give them credit for. This is why you may hear your five-year-old talking about rectangular prisms, or your seven-year-old discussing the differences between isosceles, right, and scalene triangles.

Our Schools Cultivate Community

A Montessori school is more than just a school. First and foremost we are there for our students, but we believe schools have the capacity to be so much more. We aim to make meaningful connections between everyone involved. Some of the ways we do this include:

• Giving our guides opportunities to connect with one another for development

• Encouraging our guides to form connections within the larger Montessori network

• Making sure parents and guides have ample time to discuss the child’s growth and needs

• Providing opportunities for parents to form relationships with one another

• Supporting families via parent education offerings

• Gathering as a whole school periodically

• Forming bonds between children at different levels

• Reaching out to make connections with the local community

• Giving our educators and families a voice in school decision making

We also believe that it is our job to take the guesswork out of making these types of connections. We aim to build in structures that make it simple for everyone to find commonalities and open streams of communication seamlessly.

Montessori Aims to Lift Up Humanity

We know. This is quite the lofty goal. From the very beginning, Dr. Montessori saw it as her mission to improve the world through education. She believed that by giving children the honor and respect they deserved, the benefits would trickle through to families, the community, and society in general. She believed in equality of all people, and saw that education has the potential to be a great leveler. 

Montessori schools aim for peace. This starts between individuals, and teaching our youngest students how to be kind and gracious toward one another. A great respect for the environment and other living beings is another important aspect of our work, as is a reverence for the wide diversity of cultures around the globe. Combined, these elements are meant to cultivate within the child a respect for themselves and others, as well as a desire to ensure connection and fairness for all.

We hope this article has been helpful. To continue the conversation, connect with us for a chat or to schedule a tour. We look forward to meeting you.

How Do Montessori Guides Address Avoidance?

One of the top questions parents ask about Montessori is: How do teachers deal with children avoiding work they don’t want to do? This is a really important concern, and becomes increasingly so as children get older. Most families know Montessori centers on student choice, and it can be hard to envision that value working in conjunction with accountability. The good news is it’s something we take very seriously. In fact, our entire approach is based on the idea that we must teach children to develop strong work habits and encourage them to be driven by internal motivation rather than reacting to external factors. This takes time, but Montessori guides are there to support children as they navigate the journey.

Give Them Choice

Having choice is actually a powerful tool in combating avoidance. When children (or people of any age) have freedom to make their own decisions, it’s empowering. Knowing that others trust in us to do the right thing is often all it takes to do the right thing. No one likes to feel micromanaged. We allow our students to choose the order of their work; some like to start the day off reading, while others prefer math. We also let children have autonomy in other ways. They get to decide when they need to use the toilet, have a snack, and move their bodies. There are, of course, procedures to follow in order to keep everyone safe, but we don’t believe kids should have to ask permission to address their basic needs, nor should they have to do so on a schedule that is convenient for adults.

The big picture: comfortable children that feel respected and trusted are much more likely to work hard and meet expectations.

Quietly Observe

If there is one statement that can help us reframe our perspectives with empathy it’s this: Each child is the way they are for a reason. There is a reason a child is avoiding something. As adults, it’s our task to discover what that reason is, and find gentle ways to address it. Montessori teaches us to think like scientists and use observation as a way to learn and make more informed decisions. Some questions we make ask ourselves as we observe a child who is struggling:

• Is the work too challenging?

• Is the work too easy/is the child bored?

• Is the child experiencing emotional upheaval in their life?

• Are the child’s basic needs being met?

• Is the physical classroom environment supportive of the child’s work?

When Montessori teachers are trained, they learn to first look to the environment, then examine themselves and their own actions. Only after considering the first two possibilities do they look to the child themselves as a potential source of the issue.

Appeal to Their Interests

Sometimes all children need is a ‘hook’. Although Montessori materials in the classroom are meant to be used in a very specific way, and deviation distracts from authenticity and effectiveness, there is some room for flexibility. This can be very helpful in modifying work so that it will best meet an individual child’s needs. A guide may consider a child’s favorite color when setting out pouring or scooping materials, favorite animals when presenting zoology lessons, or other interests when gathering reading materials. The key is to consider what a child is avoiding, then find a way to make it more enticing.

Hold Them Accountable

While Montessori doesn’t utilize punitive measures, that doesn’t mean we don’t hold children accountable. If we expect children to do certain things, it’s our job to make sure they follow through. The following are critical in making this happen:

• Clearly explain the expectations.

• Provide an environment and time that allows for expectations to be met.

• Observe children to ensure they meet expectations.

• Guide when necessary. This may include redirection, suggestions, or working together to create a plan.

As children get older and academics become more of a focus, getting work done becomes much more important. Beginning in the kindergarten year or lower elementary, Montessori guides typically begin to utilize work plans. These can take on a variety of forms, but they are generally a visual schedule, created in collaboration between the guide and the child, of what must be done. Students can typically choose the order in which tasks are completed, but adults check in to make sure there is follow through. In the event the child is not meeting the expectations, a guide will typically meet with the child to discuss new strategies. They may help the child develop time management strategies, give suggestions as to seating, or provide tips for effective work habits. The child leaves the meeting with concrete strategies to try, and the adult and child reconnect at some point to evaluate progress.

It helps to remember that learning to work is part of the child’s work. Rather than forcing children to do what we want when we want them to, we take a more long-term approach. Our goal is not just to share information, but to help children become joyful learners. We want them to walk away from Montessori being able to feel confident in their abilities and ready to take on challenges. We all want to avoid certain tasks from time to time. Our job is to teach children how to manage their time well and accomplish whatever it is they need to get done.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, this work can be carried over into the home as well. The more parents learn about Montessori, the more the concepts become part of parenting and the life of the child. We hope you will reach out to us if you have any questions or would like to discuss this topic further.

Montessori: A Woman Who Flourished in the Face of Adversity

Dr. Maria Montessori: You probably know her as the woman who created a unique method of educating children. You may know she was from Italy and was one of the nation’s first female physicians. What you may not know is she was a woman who consistently faced adversity throughout her life and still managed to cultivate incredible progress.

During Dr. Montessori’s childhood, literacy rates were very low across Italy. She was fortunate, however, and received a more advanced primary education than most. Still, women of her time were expected to focus on domestic work. Those that went on to professional careers were often in the field of teaching, a job she ironically said she would never pursue. She originally had an interest in becoming an engineer, but eventually decided to pursue medicine.

Montessori’s father made it clear that he was not in support of her decision, which was a sentiment echoed by other male figures in her life. Upon meeting with a professor of medicine at the University of Rome to discuss her plan, she was denied the opportunity to apply to the program. She enrolled at the university anyway to study math, science, and physics, and after several years worked hard to take and pass the entrance exams necessary to enter the medical program. Women were not allowed, and her enrollment was denied.

Not one to take no for an answer, Montessori persisted. Her efforts even garnered the support of Pope Leo XIII, and she was eventually granted admission to the medical program.

Throughout her time studying medicine at the university, Montessori faced discriminatory standards that would frustrate any one of us. As a woman, she was not even allowed to walk to school by herself, so her disapproving father walked with her each day. She could not enter lecture halls alongside her male peers and was made to wait outside until everyone else was seated. The idea of her standing alongside men during dissections of naked human cadavers was considered highly inappropriate, so she was forced to do her own dissection work alone in the evenings. 

Despite everything, Montessori went on to graduate in 1896. Her accomplishments were recognized and she was asked to represent Italy at an international women’s conference. At the conference, scores of protesting women gathered outside, frustrated with the privileged bourgeois women of the conference whose ideas of feminist reform were not enough in their eyes. The women outside believed in revolution, and felt that the slow pace of reform would get in their way.

Montessori was chosen to address the crowds. She spoke passionately about the movement of feminism and how it was not bound to a specific social class. Her words were uniting, and she was well received not just by the women outside, but by the press and the other international delegates as well.

Montessori’s feminist ideals were radical for her time. She believed in equal pay for women. She believed that women who wanted to study in the areas of math and science should be allowed to, but she thought that did not excuse them from being proficient in the areas of domestic life as well. To that end, she believed that boys should be taught practical life skills in the home just as well as girls, and these beliefs carried over into her eventual development of the Montessori primary program.

Several times during her early career, Montessori was charged with overseeing children who were not deemed competent by the standards of society. Each time, she used her scientific background and approaches to develop new ways of working with the children and guiding them to exceed the expectations of others. This first happened in a psychiatric ward where she noted young children housed alongside mentally ill adults. They were forced to exist in plain rooms with nothing to entertain themselves. Gathering ideas from educators who came before her, she began to develop methods and materials to help these children learn. They did, and before long she became the director of a new school in Rome that was to educate children that typical schools were unable to, as well as to train other teachers to do so. Unsurprisingly, this venture was a huge success. On standardized tests, the children at the school were even able to perform as well as or better than their peers in typical schools.

The next phase of her life and career was a natural progression. San Lorenzo, Rome, was a very poor area in which parents who had to work during the day were forced to leave their young children at home. The children ran amok and caused general mischief and destruction. Thus was the creation of the famous Casa dei Bambini, the first Montessori school; a school within the apartment complex of the children it served. It opened in 1907 and welcomed children ages 2-6.

It was at Casa dei Bambini that Montessori developed many of her founding principles and materials for what would become the primary program. The school was such a huge success that for the remainder of its existence welcomed people from around the world who would come to see it for themselves. Countless people would visit to observe and leave astounded and inspired.

Decades later, after the Montessori method had begun to spread around the world and find enthusiastic supporters in many countries, a political shift began to take place globally. In Montessori’s own Italy, Mussolini rose to power and brought the country into a fascist regime. Somehow, the two came to an understanding: Mussolini wanted Montessori to further develop her work in Italy, and she, denying allegiance to politics of any kind, accepted the support. She felt that her work would bring about peace in the long run, while he was more focused on the fact that Montessori students presented as well-behaved and compliant. When it eventually became evident that he intended to use her schools as a vehicle to train a nation of young fascists, Montessori schools across Italy quickly closed and she fled the country.

For the next twenty years she lived in Spain and cultivated a vibrant and strong extension of the Montessori movement. Sadly, in 1936, the country found itself in a civil war and Montessori and her family quickly escaped to England.

At one point, after having lived in so many different places, she was asked about her nationality. Her response? “My country is a star which turns around the sun and is called Earth.”

Dr. Montessori was a woman who never let others stand in the way of her own progress and success. She lived through two world wars, was a staunch supporter of the early feminist movement, proved her abilities academically, and went on to dedicate her life to enriching the lives of others. She did not allow others to hold her down, and used her own success as an example of what we are all capable of.

Montessori stood, and continues to stand, as a beacon of hope for humanity. She was nominated for the Nobel Peace prize in 1949, 1950, and 1951. She died in 1952 in the Netherlands, yet her legacy carries on.

Montessori Basics: The Cultural Subjects

Montessori is known for fostering academic excellence. While most people think of how we teach children reading, writing, and mathematics, you might be amazed to learn how we teach other subjects!

In Montessori classrooms (particularly elementary classrooms) the following subjects are referred to as cultural areas of study. They often overlap, as they do in the real world, and guides are adept at weaving language and math work into lessons as well.

It is important to note that while we do have a standardized cultural curriculum, our guides are specially trained to honor and support the personal interests of their students. This means some areas may be studied more deeply than originally intended, or they may end up branching off into other related areas of study in addition to typical lessons and materials. Doing this allows us to continually foster curiosity and internal motivation as young children grow and develop.

Science

When it comes to science in Montessori classrooms, biology is the main event. With work that spans basic biology as well as botany and zoology, we provide authentic points of interest by keeping living things in our environments. Our classrooms are home to both plants and animals, both of which are cared for by the children. When teaching various lessons in biology, guides often utilize living samples to increase interest and engagement.

Children in our primary classrooms begin this work by way of nomenclature. Card materials that double as reading practice help them learn the names of body parts of different animals. For example, one set of cards might include a picture of a horse with label, along with cards highlighting and labeling hoof, mane, tail, eye, ears, etc. Primary-aged children also get plenty of hands-on experience with botany learning; they cut and arrange flowers, they prepare various fruits and vegetables to eat, and many get a chance to garden and/or compost. They also learn the basic parts of plants, as well as the different shapes of leaves.

The learning continues into the elementary years, where students study the kingdoms of life on earth, differentiate between invertebrates and vertebrates, and study the external features and body functions of the five classes of vertebrates. Their understanding of botany expands and deepens, as they learn in greater detail how plants are formed, how they reproduce, and how they interact within their broader ecosystems.

In addition to their work in biology, Montessori students study a wide variety of other subjects in science. They learn about the scientific method, how to conduct experiments, and topics such as the solar system, chemistry, physics, and more. They attend lessons with guides, explore topics independently and with peers, and learn how to conduct research.

Geography

Montessori children learn to view geography as an interesting and multi-faceted area of study. Primary-aged children learn about the continents and biomes of the world using specialized globes, wooden puzzle maps, and other materials. During the elementary years this work is expanded significantly. Children learn about the different countries around the world, the cultures of the people who live there, and the animals who inhabit the various biomes. They also learn about landforms and bodies of water.

Beyond the surface of our earth today, our students learn about how it has changed over time. They are taught about the beginnings of our universe and how our planet was formed. They learn about the layers of our atmosphere and the layers of the earth itself. They explore the mechanics and functions of various natural occurrences around the planet, including how water (in all three states of matter) and wind can contribute to significant change over time.

Our hope is to give children a view of the whole world, and our work in geography serves as an impressionistic platform to inform them of the interconnectedness of everything on our planet.

History

While the bulk of the history curriculum begins in the elementary years, primary children often have an opportunity to reflect on their own lives during our traditional birthday celebrations, as well as gaining an initial sense of the passing of time. They learn about the days of the week, the months of the year, and start to use a calendar together as a group.

Beginning in the first grade, we know that children are developmentally ready (and eager) to explore the concepts of history. As mentioned in our summary of the geography curriculum, we give our students a look at the history of our universe. This leads to a study of the evolution of organisms on Earth, as well as a look at early humans.

Our study of the history of humans branches off into many directions. After learning about the earliest humans, children learn about ancient cultures, the fundamental needs of humans, and how people in different societies have (and continue to) meet those needs. We explore the origins and history of mathematics and language, which children at the elementary level find particularly relevant and interesting.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, these three subjects tend to overlap and connect quite a bit. Sometimes we guide children to discover these connections, and other times they recognize connections on their own.

Want to learn more? We believe the best way to discover Montessori education (or just to expand your understanding) is to visit our school. We welcome you to schedule a virtual tour. Today, we leave you with a quote from Dr. Montessori’s book, To Educate the Human Potential:

"…to give the whole of modern culture has become an impossibility and so a need arises for a special method, whereby all factors of culture may be introduced to the six-year-old; not in a syllabus to be imposed on him, or with exactitude of detail, but in the broadcasting of the maximum number of seeds of interest.  These will be held lightly in the mind, but will be capable of later germination, as the will becomes more directive, and thus he may become an individual suited to these expansive times."