Why Montessori

Scientific research has shown that:
Montessori education has successfully worked with children all over the world, (wealthy, poor, gifted, average, learning disabled, blind, etc.) and various environments, (from refugee camps and slums to elegant schools in beautiful private homes). It is not the richness of the environment that determines the success of the Montessori method, but the preparation of the teacher.

• Cognition is optimized when movement is consistent with thinking.
• We learn best when we are interested in what we are learning about.
• Extrinsic rewards reduce motivation and level of performance once the rewards are removed.
• People thrive when they feel a sense of choice and control.
• We learn best when our learning is situated in meaningful contexts.
• Children can learn very well from and with peers; after age 6, children respond well to collaborative learning situations.

Montessori education is a brain-based, developmental method that allows children to make creative choices in discovering people, places, and knowledge of the world. It is hands-on learning, self-expression, and collaborative play in a beautifully crafted environment of respect, peace, and joy. It is also about brain development. A skillful Montessori teacher knows what stage a child is at in their brain development. They can then appropriately know when to meet it and when to feed it. “The Montessori Method is like education designed by a pediatric developmental neuropsychologist,” says Steven Hughes Ph.D., L.P. (Click here to read the complete article)

To learn more about the scientific research behind these principles and how they are implemented in a Montessori classroom, read Angeline Stoll Lillard’s book, Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius, Oxford University Press.