Why Montessori?
One of the most daunting and yet most rewarding decisions a parent can make is the type of education that they will provide for their child. So: why should you choose Montessori?
Montessori is a child-centered approach that builds self-confidence through daily work in a curriculum where kindness, empathy, and a love of learning are the foundations.
“The greatest sign of success for a teacher…is to be able to say, ‘The children are now working as if I did not exist.” – Maria Montessori
A Montessori School |
A Traditional Classroom |
| Emphasis: academic, emotional, and social development | Emphasis: academic development |
| Child is the center of the classroom | Teacher is the center of the classroom |
| Environment and method encourage self-discipline | Teacher disciplines |
| Mainly individual instruction | Mainly group instruction |
| Mixed-age grouping | Same-age grouping |
| Mixed-age grouping encourages children to teach and help each other | Most teaching led by teacher |
| Child chooses his own work | Curriculum structured for the child |
| Child works as long as he wishes on chosen activity | Child generally allotted specific time for work |
| Child sets his own learning pace | Pace of instruction usually set by group norm |
| Child reinforces his own learning through repetition of work and internal feelings of success | Learning is reinforced externally by repetition and rewards |
| Multi-sensory materials for physical exploration | Fewer materials for sensory development |
| Organized approach to learning care of self and environment (tying shoes, washing dishes) | Less emphasis on self-care instruction |
The Whole-Child Approach
Montessori focuses on developing children with a whole-child approach. This method helps each child to reach his or her full potential in all areas of life.
“The child’s emotional, social, physical and cognitive needs and interests are considered to be inseparable and of equal importance. The child is seen as naturally eager for knowledge and capable of initiating learning in a supportive, thoughtfully prepared learning environment, with the guidance of a specially educated teacher.” (“Montessori: Innovative, Bold, Empowering, Essential!”–American Montessori Society)
At Village Green, each child is a cherished and invaluable member of our community.