Why Montessori?
Dance of the Cosmos - Performed by EC Adult Learners
Dr. Maria Montessori believed that the best way for children to learn was by doing. To her, learning was not the passive acceptance of other people idea’s and pre-existing knowledge. Instead, she saw learning as an activity undertaken by the learner. The active pursuit of knowledge through a series of meaningful interactive experiences.
Physical. Social. Emotional. Cognitive.
She believed that learning takes place in carefully prepared, nurturing, multi-age classrooms. In these prepared environments children at various stages of development learn from and with each other.
Dr. Montessori’s developmentally appropriate approach was designed to fit each child instead of making each child fit the program. Respect for each child’s individuality is at the core of her philosophy. And this respect leads to the development of trusting relationships.
As a Montessori teacher, you foster the maximum development of each child’s abilities. You set the stage (the prepared environment) and serve as a multifaceted resource person. And the children do the rest. They construct their own personal knowledge through their active participation in a variety of meaningful experiences.
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