MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY
Dr. Montessori believed that no human being is ever educated by another person. The child must do it by him / herself, or it will never be done. The Montessori objective is approached by first allowing each child to experience the excitement of learning by his / her own choice, rather than being forced. Secondly, the Montessori objective is to help him / her to perfect all their natural tools for learning so that they will maximize future learning situations.
Guiding Principles
Dr. Montessori's Practices and Principles:
~ Children are the same regardless of culture
~ Education should be an aid to the growth process
~ The true nature of children is as outlined in her book, "The Normalized Child": that human society can be uplifted through this recognition
Dr. Montessori's "Normalized Child”
Love of order... Love of work... Profound spontaneous concentration... Attachment to reality... Love of silence and working alone... Sublimation of the possessive instinct... Power to act from real choice and not from whims... Obedience... Spontaneous self-discipline.
Our primary concern:
Our primary concern is to maintain a constant and well-prepared environment in which children can engage in the learning process. The child-sized equipment and specific materials allow children to interact with their environment and with each other. The highly trained and reflective teachers assist the children in making their own discoveries and sharing these discoveries with their peers.
HOW THE CHILD LEARNS
The use of the Montessori materials is based on the young child's unique aptitude for learning, which Dr. Montessori identified as the "absorbent mind." In her books she frequently compared the young mind to a sponge. The process is particularly evident in the way a two-year-old learns his / her natural language without any conscious thought or formal instruction. Acquiring information in this way is a natural and delightful activity for a young child and one that invites the child to use all of his / her senses to investigate his / her innate interest in the world. Children retain this ability to learn by absorbing until they are almost seven years old. A young child can learn to read, write and calculate in the same natural way that he/she learns to walk and talk. In a Montessori classroom the teaching tools invite the child to do this at his / her own pace. This is a hands-on approach that helps the child concentrate and focus on the task while allowing him / her to enjoy the process of learning.
Phone:(818) 717-1978
