To walk into a Montessori classroom today, one would see that there are few changes from a Montessori classroom of 50 years ago. The children perform purposeful work with a variety of hands-on materials, a large majority of these materials and exercises being the same ones Maria Montessori first developed 100 years ago.

There are four essential elements to the method: 1. a carefully constructed classroom, 2. didactic materials, 3. a well-trained directress (a teacher of the Montessori method), and 4. pedagogy that respects the child as an intelligent individual.

Montessori referred to the environment as "liberty in a prepared environment". The environment of the classroom is structured, yet the children have the freedom to choose what they want to do. The room itself is designed to be inviting yet not overwhelming for the child as it is the materials that are intended to attract the child. Everything is child-sized and accessible, and has its own place in the environment, providing ease for the children when cleaning up and returning materials to the shelves.

The famous didactic materials are very well constructed, practical, purposeful, and generally self-correcting.

Within the Montessori environment, the Teacher is referred to as a directress or a director.  Montessori felt the role of the directress/director is to direct the child to materials best suited for his/her developmental level and interests. The most important tool is observation. A Montessori directress/director receives rigorous training in the proper use of the materials, as well as studying child development. A teacher in an authentic Montessori program will hold a Montessori Teaching Diploma. Montessori teacher training emphasizes the development of the 'whole child' - emotional, physical, intellectual and social. Through careful observation, the Montessori directress/director follows the individual interests and needs of each child, providing lessons and guidance when necessary.

The Montessori pedagogy recognizes each child as a unique individual with his/her own potentials and capabilities, and allows a child to work at his/her own pace. Montessori observed the child to possess "Sensitive Periods", a universal phenomenon, which are developmental times in the child's early years when it is easier to learn specific skills. Montessori also found that between the ages of 0-6 years, the child literally absorbs information and impressions from his/her surrounding environment, like a sponge, and has an uncanny ability to learn effortlessly. She coined this term the "Absorbent Mind". These two traits are the basis of the Montessori pedagogy.

For more information about the Montessori Method and our school, you are welcome to contact us to arrange an observation in one of our classrooms - Casa or Elementary.