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Montessori believed the teacher is the direct link between the child and their environment. Montessori Education differs from traditional education in many aspects because it puts children’s needs first, and teachers should take a secondary role in the classroom. Teachers guide the child to educate themselves through the exploration of the environment using the senses.
In a Montessori environment, natural elements, and materials are displayed beautifully on open shelves to engage children in meaningful activities aiming to develop students’ intellect while promoting a sense of belonging to a vaster presence.
The Montessori environment, whether it is a preschool or a middle school classroom, fulfills children’s developmental, socio-emotional, spiritual, and intellectual needs. The main subject areas presented in a Montessori classroom are practical life; sensorial, language, math, and culture. This encompasses specific subjects like earth science, zoology, botany, history, geography, economic geography, ecology, art, and music.
Montessori education fosters independence and promotes self-discipline by providing a prepared environment that engages students, and respects children’s natural psychological, physical, social, and spiritual needs. The classroom atmosphere is characterized by the multi-age interaction and collaboration of students, the freedom to move around, choose areas of interest, and respect of the sanctity of the students’ concentration.
To obtain a higher level of concentration children in Montessori environments are presented with activities on daily living or practical life, which are purposefully designed to increment complexity and are presented without verbal interaction. These exercises are categorized into four context areas: grace and courtesy, care of self, care of the environment, and dexterous development of movement. This allows children to become independent and productive members of society. Learning to greet others, wash hands, water the plants, pour liquids, or polish shoes are examples of these areas. Practical life activities set the foundation for further development. Examples include math, language, and cultural studies.
Known for its hands-on approach and sensory education, the Montessori method supports learning through the movement of the hand and muscle memory, exploration, and observation to understand the natural environment.
At HEART Centered we are committed to providing a safe and peaceful environment where children can use Montessori- based activities to support their academic needs.
