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The Montessori Method
At Indigo Montessori, we practice the Montessori Method. The teachers-leaders of Indigo Montessori are trained by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). If you are new to Montessori, or if you would simply like a small refresher, below are a number of the key tenets of the Montessori Method. We welcome any questions you may have!
Please reach out if you would like to learn more about this method of education.
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Freedom and Responsibility
At Indigo Montessori, all students have the freedom to develop and grow within a prepared environment. By having the freedom (within limits) to choose what activity to do and how long to do it, all students learn how to become independent and disciplined in their work.
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Students freely choose what to work on, who to work with, and where to work, but they must choose work. This is the concept of freedom with responsibility. We give the freedom to make these choices so that they learn the discipline to work on their own and feel intrinsically satisfied with the work they do.
Peace Education
Maria Montessori believed that each generation of children brings renewed hope for a more peaceful world. As children move from respecting their physical space to respectful collaboration, from projecting their own desires for peace and social justice to leading that change, they will come to understand that conflict is an opportunity for growth and understand their own potential for leadership in bringing about justice and peace in our society.
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Peace education is the essence of Montessori, and can be found in the design of the materials and the prepared environment. The purpose of education at Indigo Montessori is for fostering peace and justice in our community.
Intrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic motivation comes from the inside, from the child experiencing the joy of their own accomplishment. In a Montessori classroom, instead of using rewards, Montessori guides provide children with choices that generate intrinsic motivation and engagement.
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To help the child reach their full potential, we try to understand their inner drives and offer guidance, but only the child can achieve their own self-construction. It is the child who strives to be independent, to grow, and to learn. It is the child's process.
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Teacher as Guide
The teacher in the Montessori classroom is a guide, assisting children in finding their own strengths and capabilities through the use of developmentally appropriate lessons and enticing, self-correcting materials. A Montessori guide leads from behind, knowing when to intervene and when to step back. A Montessori guide believes in the child and seeks to support all children by providing opportunities for them to reach their full potential.
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Independence develops when the child has the freedom to act and learn within a structured and prepared environment. The emphasis for the guide is always on keeping alive the spark of curiosity, supporting and encouraging independence, and nurturing each child's inherent desire to learn.
Prepared Environment
The “prepared environment” is the concept that the environment can be designed to facilitate maximum independent learning and exploration by the child. In the prepared environment, there is a variety of activity as well as a great deal of movement. A prepared environment gives every child the freedom to fully develop their unique potential through developmentally appropriate sensorial materials. The materials range from simple to complex and from concrete to abstract, catering toward every child’s age and ability.
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“Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment.” -Dr. Maria Montessori
Evidence-Based Research
Dr. Maria Montessori developed her method through scientific observation of the child. Modern research confirms that children are thriving under the Montessori Method compared to traditional instruction in the United States.
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In one research study, Montessori students in a state-wide system met more standards and showed more growth, especially in low-income and black sub-groups. Additionally, students showed more creativity, and had fewer absences, discipline events, and suspensions.
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Other research supports that attending a Montessori program from ages three through eleven predicts significantly higher mathematics and science standardized test scores in high school and fosters skills in writing that are more sophisticated and creative. Additionally, students from Montessori programs have a more highly developed sense of community and stronger social skills.
Preventing conflicts is the work of politics; establishing peace is the work of education.
- Dr. Maria Montessori
