“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
Dr. Montessori referred to a young child’s mind as the “the absorbent mind” with an incredible capacity to take in information and sensations from her surroundings. The information a child absorbs in the early years is the foundation of the person she will become. Unlike traditional schools, Montessori environments are thoughtfully designed to meet the developmental needs within each age group and create an environment that is appealing, filled with natural light, accessible to hands-on learning materials, and arranged with a purpose.
Maria Montessori observed that children are more motivated to learn when working on something of their own choosing. A Montessori student may choose his focus of learning on any given day, but his decision is limited by the materials and activities—in each area of the curriculum—that his teacher has prepared and presented to him. The Montessori teacher closely observes each child and provides materials and activities that advance his learning by building on skills and knowledge already gained.