Doctor Maria Montessori, who developed the principles of Montessori school education following years of experimentation and observation, said, “Children learn naturally through activity and their characters develop through freedom.”

The principles of Montessori education are based on respect for children’s learning process and are about understanding how children learn. The principles define how Montessori is different from traditional education.

‍Principles of Montessori School Education

Respect for the Child

The Montessori philosophy revolves around respecting the child, which means every child is unique and must be respected for his/her talent and uniqueness. Children should be respected for their freedom to choose, to move, to correct their own mistakes, and to work at their own pace.

Prepared Environment

A Montessori classroom is known as the prepared environment as it is a meticulously planned learning environment in which everything has a place and a function.

The central concept of the classroom being, “Order in the environment and mind”. Children are free to pursue their interests, pick their work, and advance at their own pace in this environment.

Absorbent Mind

The first six years of a child’s life are most critical for his/her overall development. Doctor Maria Montessori called this period the ‘absorbent mind’ stage to describe the child’s sponge-like capacity to absorb information from their environment.

During these years, children quickly gain a grasp of their culture and the world around them. Moreover, the foundations of their intelligence and personality are built in these early years.

Educating the Child

Montessori education focuses on maximising each child’s potential by offering learning opportunities that promote their intellectual, physical, emotional, and social growth.

The Montessori curriculum encompasses practical life, sensorial, and cultural topics in addition to language and arithmetic. All areas of child development and learning are interwoven and treated equally.

Individualized Learning

Montessori school programmes are customised to suit each child’s unique stage of development, interests, and needs. Lessons are based on the academic advancement of each child and teachers keep track of each child’s development and offer encouragement as they work their way through the curriculum.

Freedom of Movement and Choice

Children learn the best when they are given the freedom to move, pick their interests, and choose whatever they want to work upon. On the whole, Montessori learning is greatly active, individually paced, self-correcting, and customized to the needs and interests of each child.

‍Independence

Young children seek independence more than anyone else. They seek to explore things on their own and that makes their learning experience more fun and wholesome. The Montessori programme offers children the environment, materials, and guidance to learn to do and think for themselves.

Instead of seeing children as merely young kids, the programm considers them to be born leaders who are capable and willing to teach themselves if provided with the right stimulus.