This first thing that draws the eye in a Montessori classroom is the materials. Neatly ordered from left to right, and organised into curriculum areas, Montessori materials are specifically designed for little minds and little hands!
As a parent who is new to Montessori, you may be slightly alarmed when you first hear the term ‘normal’ or ‘normalisation’.
The Pink Tower is the iconic Montessori material. Often called the ‘symbol of Montessori’, it is a welcoming sign in any Montessori environment, and a favourite with educators globally.
The phrase ‘sensitive periods’ often conjures up thoughts of moody teenagers, but it actually refers to a period of time when a child’s interests are focused on developing a particular skill or knowledge area.
Maria Montessori was one of the first academics to link children’s emotional development to their ability to learn at an optimal rate. To support the development of social skills, emotional intelligence, and academic wellbeing, Montessori designed the concept of a classroom community to support the development of these skills over time.
Ensuring that children have the skills they need to succeed in the digital age is one of the most important issues for 21st century education.
The term normalisation is often met with confusion and concern from parents. However, the good news is normalisation is actually very positive in the context of Montessori education.
Fine motor skills, or dexterity, is something that we often think develops naturally in a child as they grow older. However, there is actually a close relationship between fine motor development and cognitive development.
If you’ve ever been in a Montessori Academy classroom around 9am, you might be surprised by what you see and hear. Young children aren’t usually known for being quiet or overly attentive for long periods of time. However, during the first few hours of the Montessori preschool day, children are highly focused on their own chosen tasks, usually individually, under the guidance of a trained teacher.