How does Montessori work?

In the Montessori classroom, students benefit from the principle of freedom within limits. Every program has its ground rules appropriate for the age level, but they are always based on core Montessori beliefs—respect for each other, the environment, and the materials. 

Children are free to work at their own pace, either alone or in a pair, with the materials they have chosen. The teacher relies on her observations to determine what new activities and materials need to be introduced, either to an individual or to a group. The children progress through their sensitive periods of learning, honing their ability to concentrate for long periods of time on a particular interest. The goal is to encourage active, self-directed learning and to achieve individual mastery within small groups and the school community as a whole. 

Multi-age classrooms offer family-like grouping where learning takes place naturally. More experienced children share what they have learned, which reinforces their own learning. Less experienced children look at what their older friends are doing and want to do it, too. This leads to intrinsic motivation—learning because they want to, not because it is required. 

Creativity flourishes in an atmosphere of acceptance and trust. Montessorians recognize that all children learn and express themselves in a very individual way. The Montessori environment itself encourages creative development, with materials to stimulate interest and involvement, an emphasis on the sensory aspect of experience, and opportunities for both verbal and non-verbal modes of learning. In addition, music, art, storytelling, movement, and drama activities are integrated into the program. 

The Montessori classroom

The prepared environment—room, materials, and social climate—must be supportive of the learner. The teacher provides the resources necessary for self-directed learning. The resources include the materials (“works”), child-sized furniture and room layout, and a safe and positive setting. Soft colors paint the walls and flooring to ensure that the materials stand out and that the learner’s senses are not overstimulated. As the teacher gains the children’s trust, they build their self-confidence from trying new activities. 

Montessori materials are designed to “call” the child into the work, and include multisensory, sequential, and self-correcting materials that facilitate the learning of skills and abstract ideas. Each work, placed in baskets or on trays, is carefully prepared so that everything the child needs for that particular work is present. 

Are all Montessori schools the same?

Because “Montessori” is a word in the public domain, any individual or institution can claim to observe Montessori principles. However, an authentic Montessori classroom has the following basic characteristics: 



1. Teachers who are credentialed in the Montessori philosophy and methodology for the age level that they teach, and who have the ability and dedication to put the key concepts into practice.
2. A partnership established with the family. The family is considered an integral part of the individual’s total development.
3. A multi-age, multi-grade, heterogeneous grouping of students.
4. A diverse set of Montessori materials, activities, and experiences designed to foster physical, intellectual, creative, and social independence.
5. A schedule that provides large blocks of time for children to problem-solve, see connections in knowledge, and create new ideas.
6. A classroom atmosphere that encourages social interaction for cooperative learning, peer teaching, and emotional development.