The History of Montessori Schools
Maria Montessori was one of the first female physicians in Italy; born in Chiaravalle in 1870, she developed a keen interest in how children learn and she compared notes with noted theorists of the time such as Piaget, Erikson, Sequin and Freud. She opened her “Children’s House” school in 1907 where she put what became known as the Montessori Method into practice. Montessori’s ideas revolutionized education; and today there are thousands of Montessori schools worldwide.
What Is the Montessori Method?
In a nutshell, the Montessori Method emphasizes the simple truth that children learn best when allowed to discover concepts at their own pace. Students are encouraged to explore, experiment and practice skills in many different ways using concrete manipulatives. As each skill is mastered teachers introduce a new challenge, creating a solid foundation for the progressively more abstract concepts to come. Teachers prepare the classroom carefully with what the child will need so that the student can get to work with very little help from an adult, setting the student up for success and the increased confidence that comes from recognizing their own independence.
You will never see teachers’ desks in a Montessori classroom or sterile rooms where children are asked to sit in a desk and repeat the right answers. Instead, classrooms are beautiful, child-centered, warm and inviting learning environments where students are free to move around the room, work with others or practice a task independently. Teachers may work with one or two students at a time or demonstrate a new concept to the group. Each child learns at his or her own pace without the pressure of competition or fear of embarrassment when mistakes are made; and the end result is that the joy of learning becomes its own reward.
Learning respect for others, fostering their own intelligence, and developing a sense of independence, self-confidence, self-discipline and intrinsic motivation are the ultimate goals of a Montessori student’s education. Montessori methods allow students to learn the value of doing things for themselves, developing strong work habits, and fostering a solid sense of responsibility: all of which are characteristics that will benefit them during their entire academic careers and throughout their adult lives.
Why Choose Soaring Wings For Montessori Education?
From the moment you set foot in our school, you’ll immediately notice the feeling of peaceful industriousness that is at the heart of effective Montessori learning. Our classrooms are filled with a wide variety of finely crafted learning materials that will captivate your student. Children are motivated to learn and highly-qualified teachers are trained to help students get excited about their own educations and reach their highest potential. Does it really work? Our SAT Scores and hundreds of successful graduates speak for themselves!
We invite you and your children to drop by any school day at 10:00am, so we can give you a personal tour and discuss enrollment. An appointment is not necessary.