Montessori Method — The Montessori Discovery School

Dr. Maria Montessori opened her first Children’s House in 1907 in Rome. Her philosophy of education is holistic – considering the child’s entire being as vital to their learning process. She noted that young children learn best by observing, by simply absorbing and soaking it up like a sponge. When the basic emotional, physical and social needs of a young child are met consistently and respectfully, that child develops trust. Only then does the child feel secure enough to develop his or her own identity.

There is a scientific aspect to her approach. Dr. Maria Montessori isolated the difficulty in every activity introduced to the child, so step-by-step they could learn an activity my manipulating the materials she designed. Children move through the materials at their own pace, thus challenging themselves at their own level. In this way, the child naturally develops a feeling of independence and self-confidence. Learning becomes self-guided in a sense and ignites a spark for life-long learning.

A personalized, yet practical approach to learning

Every teacher at the Montessori Discovery School holds their Montessori certification from a well-established Montessori teaching center. The school’s director, Sallyann, has been teaching this method for almost 30 years and has found that making some adaptations to the Method best meets the needs of the community.

What does this mean in practical terms? It means that at MDS, there is a balance between self-guided learning and structured learning. As children prepare to transition into public schools, they need to be able to integrate into those classrooms. Traditional Montessori curriculum offers many choices for children, and there is much latitude in their decision-making process. In contrast, public schools don’t often offer children the option to do an activity – it’s usually structured and required.

It’s achieving this balance between self-guided learning and structured learning that MDS offers a slightly different flavor of the Montessori method.

At MDS, each child’s learning style is assessed by his or her Montessori-certified teacher and lessons are adapted to meet each child’s needs. The curriculum unfolds depending on each child’s readiness, and as such, it’s highly customized. With this approach, the child naturally develops a feeling of self-confidence that fosters a spark for lifelong learning.

In addition to our Montessori materials, we offer play areas, such as wooden blocks, legos, and other manipulatives. This encourages children to play in a group, share, cooperate, and problem solve.

Montessori: Planting the Seeds of Learning

To learn more about the Montessori Method, visit the following resources:
The Montessori Foundation’s FAQ
25 Reasons to Keep Your Child In Montessori through Kindergarten