The Montessori Environment in a Nutshell

The Montessori Environment is a prepared environment designed to aid your child in their search for independence, concentration, and happiness. Children need an interactive, hands-on, educational environment to become self-motivated and successful learners. Here, children are free to explore with their senses to fully understand the world around them. They are free to learn at their own pace. We never push a child academically; the child learns through their explorations and from others in their environment. Interaction with their peers in a real-life community is necessary. Children require ample time and space to practice and perfect their abilities.

          The Montessori materials provide children with a variety of interactive experiences including learning activities of practical life, sensorial, language, math, science, history, culture, art, etc. Dr. Montessori found that children need more than just academics; they need to be allowed to explore their world and society. Our classrooms are communities. The children care for the environment they learn in, along with the people within. Children will have a job within their community.

          Our school and classrooms only have one rule and that is the rule of respect. Respect fulfills so many needs within an environment. When a child follows the rule of respect, they will never say or do anything to hurt another child. With respect, the child will care for everything within their environment. Most importantly, with respect, the child will care for themself. Respect will carry a child confidently and happily through the rest of their life. We ask that you help in fostering this respect. Respect comes in many forms. We respect people by listening to their words and looking them in the eye when we speak with them. We respect people by giving them common courtesies like saying "Excuse me", "Please", "Thank you" and "Your Welcome". We respect the environment by not throwing trash on the floor, not harming animals, caring for the books we read, etc. These small considerations show respect and model respect for our children. This leads to a child feeling appreciated and cared for. Once a child feels respect, they will in turn give that respect to their immediate environment, including the animals and people within it.

-Primary Teacher