Montessori Education
The Montessori philosophy is based on supporting the complete development of the child as they progress from birth to adulthood. It takes the broad vision of education as an aid for life.
As a way of teaching, Montessori offers the view that knowledge isn’t passively gained by listening to words. Rather, it is gained through experiences in the surrounding environment.
Therefore, the Montessori approach uses a prepared classroom to inspire children towards a life-long love of learning.
Qualities of the prepared classroom include: structure, order, freedom of movement, and freedom of choice.
Within this structured space, children learn through hands-on experiences. Especially relevant are the
beautifully made Montessori learning materials that children work with to make independent learning discoveries.
The children are guided in their learning by the Montessori teachers, who act as the link between the children, and
the prepared environment.
The teacher’s role is to prepare the classroom, and observe and guide their students in their learning. As a result, children progress at their own pace, according to their own abilities.
Through work in the Montessori environment, children learn to develop concentration, self-discipline, and a love of learning.
Pinelands Montessori applies the Montessori way of teaching to help children achieve their full potential.
Finally, by valuing each child as an individual, we empower our students to become confident, independent learners.
The Montessori motto therefore is:
“Help me to do it myself.”
The Ten Fundamental Rules
- Never touch the child unless invited by him (in some form or the other).
- Never speak ill of the child in his presence or absence.
- Concentrate on strengthening and helping the development of what is good in the child that its presence may leave less and less space for evil.
- Be active in preparing the environment. Take meticulous and constant care of it. Help the child establish constructive relations with it. Show the proper place where the means of development are kept and demonstrate their proper use.
- Be ever ready to answer the call of the child who stands in need of you, and always listen and respond to the child who appeals to you.
- Respect the child who makes a mistake and can then or later correct himself, but stop firmly and immediately any misuse of the environment and any action which endangers the child, his development or others.
- Respect the child who takes rest or watches others working or ponders over what he himself has done or will do. Neither call him nor force him to other forms of activity.
- Help those who are in search of activity and cannot find it.
- Be untiring in repeating presentations to the child who refused them earlier, in helping the child acquire what is not yet his own and overcome imperfections. Do this by animating the environment with care, with restraint and silence, with mild words and loving presence. Make your ready presence felt to the child who searches and hide from the child who has found.
- Always treat the child with the best of good manners and offer him the best you have in yourself and at your disposal.
