About Montessori

Maria Montessori was a woman far beyond her times. Although her theory is more than a hundred years old, we are still using it today. Montessori exposes children to situations that will stimulate:
• Curiosity, initiative & independence.
• Self-esteem & decision making skills.
• Respect for one’s self, others & the environment.
• Activities to develop fine & gross motor skills.
• Appreciation of art, literature & music.
• A love of learning.

How is it different?
• We ‘follow the child’
• No set/rigid curriculum
• Child-centred learning
• Development of the ‘whole’ child
• Freedom of choice

At our school, we endeavour to practice this philosophy as best we can. We also use other didactic approaches. Thus, we call ourselves “Montessori-based”.

How can YOU, as a parent, complement our ethos?
Understand our philosophy and enter into a partnership with us to educate your child. Remember the parent’s role is important in these formative years.

Overview of Maria Montessori’s Philosophy
Maria Montessori believed in “observing” children and did not impose any researched didactic method upon children. Through her observations, she gained insight into how children learned through exploration, self-discovery and copying role models in their lives, being their parents and teachers who were their first teachers.

The teacher plays a facilitative role in learning
It is the teacher’s responsibility to prepare an environment which will stimulate the child’s natural curiosity to learn and grow by using his hand to educate his senses. She believed that the “hand” is the instrument to the brain. We encourage students from Montessori colleges to do their teaching practice and observations with us as our philosophy is to “train and empower”.

“Education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being.” Dr Maria Montessori

Children absorb their environment and learn through sensorial keys
The child has a different relation to his environment from ours. Adults admire their environment; they can remember it and think about it….. but the child absorbs it. The things they see are not just remembered, they form part of his soul. She thus believed that we should give children as many impressions and “sensorial keys” as possible from an early age due to this “absorbent mind”.

Learning is centred on the “sensitive” periods in a child’s life
We should not disadvantage children by going against nature. It is natural for children to talk, walk, move, etc at a certain age. Maria Montessori called this the “sensitive” periods. As an example, children naturally learn how to walk between the ages of ten months to fourteen months old. In order to allow for this natural development to take place, we should not carry children but allow them to experience the joy of walking to its fullest. Her entire approach is based on these sensitive periods. The classrooms are arranged to encourage the natural development of children. For example, 3 – 4 year olds are sensitive to movement. Thus the equipment would be placed strategically to encourage movement, concentration and co-ordination.

Grace and courtesy forms an integral part of learning
Children are taught how to control their body movements and conduct themselves in socially appropriate and acceptable ways. They are taught how to carry a chair, how to pass a pencil, scissor, etc. Actual learning begins when children are normalized.

“If you have not worked with children, you have not lived your life.” Dr Maria Montessori