Learning and Development

Memorizing Addition Facts

Memorizing facts is essential to solid numeric understanding as well as preparation for efficiently completing more complicated problems later. As you might imagine, we start this process when children are young, and we use specialized materials to help them feel and envision what the numbers are doing.

A Vital Form of Expression

Art is a vital form of self-expression, especially for young children. In Montessori, we’re highly sensitive to the various expressive needs of children throughout different stages of development. Explore the role that art plays in Montessori classrooms.

Independence is the Bedrock of Freedom

Montessori supports children in becoming independent so they can ultimately be free. In order to be truly free, we need to be able to make our own choices which means having the skills and abilities to then act upon our choices. Without independence, we can’t truly be free.

The Gift of Independence

You may already know that Montessori educators value and encourage independence in even their youngest students. Why is it so important? We believe that nurturing this valuable character trait is both empowering and necessary.

The Montessori Prepared Environment

From the earth’s biosphere offering an array of support for life, to the fragrant and colorful flowers existing to lure pollinators, to a woman’s uterus preparing each month for the implantation of a fertilized egg – prepared environments are all around us!

Character Traits Nurtured in Montessori

In Montessori, while we care deeply about the academics we teach, we’re quite passionate about other things too. We want the children in our care to go out into the world feeling good about themselves, caring about others, and excited about what they do.

Spotlight: The Montessori Guide

Those of us accustomed to traditional models of education may find the Montessori approach, and the role of the adult in the classroom, somewhat odd or even worrisome. How can we expect our children to learn if the teachers don’t teach?

The Sensitive Periods

Have you ever noticed how sensitive young children can be to changes in their routine? Or how quickly young children can absorb the intricacies of language? Or how they progress seamlessly from sitting to crawling, to walking and then running?

Mutual Respect and Making Deposits

Montessori classrooms depend upon a web of mutual respect. This culture of respect is established from the very beginning: from how the classroom is arranged and sized for the children, to how we greet each other at the start of the day, to how the adults refrain from interrupting children’s concentration.

Sensorial Superpowers

To support a child's development, Montessori programs offer carefully designed sensorial materials that follow a formal, systematic approach. The materials isolate each sensorial quality and offer children what Dr. Maria Montessori called the “keys to the world.”