In Their Own Words
Multi-age Classrooms
One of the signature aspects of a Montessori school is the multi-age classrooms. These types of classrooms, based on planes of development, group children together in 3-year cycles rather than exact age. The benefits of multi-age classrooms range from feeling comfortable in a familiar environment to developing leadership and social skills.
Dr. Maria Montessori believed that children should be grouped into classrooms according to their plane of development, not their exact age. The planes of development can be broken down to: 0-3, 3-6.
The Role of Facilitator
In a Montessori school, you will notice that educators are not called teachers, but rather facilitators. This is because the Montessori approach to learning emphasizes that the role of the educator is to “facilitator” the children as they find their own strengths and capabilities through the use of Montessori learning materials. Unlike a traditional school, which consists of a teacher lecturing to the whole class about one topic, a Montessori school provides customized learning plans for each child.
Uninterrupted Work Periods
One of the basic tenets of the Montessori philosophy is that children should be allowed to work at their own pace. This is achieved in a Montessori classroom through uninterrupted work periods. During this time, which is typically one to three hours long, the child is able to work on different tasks at his own pace with guidance rather than interruption from a teacher. These uninterrupted work periods improve concentration skills and allow a child to gain a deeper understanding of the topic of interest.
Virtue Education
Grace and Courtesy – In order to understand social structures and healthy social interactions, it’s important for a child to receive virtue education. A good Montessori preschool will teach lessons in Grace and Courtesy to help a child build these social skills which will allow the child to feel more at ease in different environments. Grace and Courtesy lessons also help children learn the vocabulary, actions, and steps needed to handle and respond to social situations in a positive manner.