Montessori Background
Why Montessori?
Montessori education is a philosophy as well as an educational system. It is a system based on profound respect for the child’s personality, helping him grow in educational, emotional, and spiritual independence. It differs form other educational approaches because it is based on the principle of freedom in a carefully prepared environment suitable to the nature of the child. It caters to his need to learn by doing, thereby offering him a maximum spontaneity and enabling him to reach a higher level of scholastic achievement.
What is the Montessori approach?
It is an aid to life. The primary aim of the Montessori approach is to help the child to help himself in a spontaneous manner, always in accord with his inner directives. Montessori provides for these needs through a prepared environment, whereby the child takes all those things that are good and necessary for his total development.
Why start at an early age?
Research has verified that the early years are the most important of a child’s life. Montessori school provides a program especially suited to the needs of the child. Individual attention is given to the whole development of the child and the foundation on which he can build his future success and happiness.
Who is Montessori?
Montessori was a Doctor of Medicine, a woman, world renowned in education from around 1905 until her death in 1952. Her work centered on developing both materials and environments to help a child learn. She realized learning was helped by the use of all our senses plus physical mobility. Materials for math, reading, science, etc., were created and skills developed, individuality was respected, and curiosity stayed alive.
What does Montessori School of Kendall offer?
The program is divided into four main areas:
 | Practical life – Exercises of adult chores that are found in everyday living but geared to the child. Through these exercises, the child develops independence & muscular coordination. |
| Sensorial – Refines the five senses, which are the tools to learning. This area teaches the child to order, classify, & categorize perceptions in the environment. |
| Language – Gives the child the tools that lead to reading & writing. |
| Mathematical Concepts – Taught in a concrete way, so that the child can eventually think in an abstract manner. |
| In addition the child will be introduced to:
| Geography |
| Social Studies |
| Science |
| Spanish program |
| Outdoor activities & nature |
| Music, arts & crafts
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