About Montessori

Montessori education is a unique approach to learning that emphasizes child-centered, hands-on experiences and focuses on the child’s natural development and curiosity. It's designed to foster independence, and a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. Dr. Montessori discovered and recent educational research has verified successive phases of growth in children, each with characteristics and sensitivities, which guide physical and mental development. These phases of growth, she called “sensitive periods”. They are outwardly recognizable by an intense interest, which the child shows for certain sensorial and abstract experiences. Dr. Montessori discovered that the guiding sensitivities constitute needs in the child which demand fulfillment and are universal to all children. Thus, the validity of Dr. Montessori’s observations have remained constant since she began her talk of the discovery of the child. Her method is constantly refined and extended under the careful direction of the Association Montessori Internationale. Hence, our program remains not rigid, but faithful to the child’s natural principles of development – yet cognizant of the ethical and cultural values that tone the child’s development in our society.

Most of the observed sensitive periods in the young child are involved with his senses – his learning tools. The child’s interest is spontaneous. From birth he/she is interested in his surroundings and gradually he/she makes order from them. This spontaneous interest and inclination toward order is the basis of the Montessori materials. Little Angels Montessori School provides a prepared environment in which the child may freely utilize these periods of sensitivity for order and for work, for the development of language and mathematics and for the development of scientific and social attitudes necessary for a wholesome life.

The most accurate means by which a school program can be evaluated is by the enthusiasm of the child at work. Dr. Montessori’s discoveries about the environment and the child have provided a love of learning for children all over the world. The Montessori primary program is designed for children from age of 2 1/2 through 6 years. We at LAMS follow the traditional Montessori method and we invite you to join us in making a difference in your child's life by scheduling a tour of our school.

Areas of Focus

Practical LifeThe child is attracted to those things that give him independence and control of his own life. A most important activity of the young child is to develop his muscles and coordinate his movement. This development enables him to focus his mind on a particular activity, i.e. to concentrate, therefore, to approach future tasks with greater proficiency. Special materials enable him to learn to tie his shoes, button, and use many other fastening devices. With materials scaled to his size, the child enjoys sweeping, dusting, washing, polishing and gardening. Lessons on courtesy permit him to deal with everyday situations. The basis of the child’s interest is that these activities are real and exist in his every day life. It provides the very foundation on which the child approaches all other work.

SensorialAmong the interests of the child from age three to six are experiences that involve his senses in his exploration of his environment. The child is able to exercise, discriminate, and learn the vocabulary which corresponds to his sensorial experiences. These tools of life afford the child the ability to form his frame of reference with which he/she can classify those inputs to his senses and allow greater opportunity to be successful in all other fields.

Language

According to Dr. Montessori, the evolution of language begins with the infant’s unique capacity to absorb intact fragments of language, which will serve as a basis for his development. This continues through an orderly, unconscious process of assimilation and abstraction. This child first discovers that sounds have meaning, and then he/she isolates the parts of speech. Finally, he/she grasps the use of sentences. The constant assimilation of language results in a sudden expansion of vocabulary.

The child learns the oral language naturally. He/She automatically takes it from his own environment. The work of the teacher is to expose his to the equivalent forms of written language which he/she learns through the same general pattern of development.

The Montessori child begins reading when he/she is ready and proceeds at his own pace. His experiences in practical life and sensorial education serve as a preparation for this. The sandpaper letters provide a phonetic basis for reading. This child’s desire and sensitivity to touch are utilized by these letters that are cut out of sandpaper and mounted for tracing. He/She not only hears the sound and sees the shape, but trains his muscles for when he/she begins writing. With cut-out letters the child builds his own words on a mat. The material frees him from the fatigue of his still developing writing skills, and yet gives him the opportunity to pursue his interests in words. This child builds his store of words through storytelling, conversation and many exercises in the environment. These activities serve as preparation for the time when the child assimilates what he/she knows and explodes into reading.

Written language is clarified by illustrating the function of the parts of speech. When a child understands function, he/she has a concept that allows the definition to have meaning. Logical analysis of phrases, clauses, and sentences lead the child to a recognition of style in the works of literature. He/She perfects his reading ability through exercises in interpretive reading. The development of language is not limited to a single academic area. All subject matter is inter-related and organized around the child’s vital interests.

MathematicsThe materials for mathematics introduce the concept of quantity and the symbols for quantity – the numbers 1 through 10. The quantity is introduced by a series of rods, which the child can count and compare. He/She matches sets of symbol cards with the rods. Using a variety of beads and symbol cards the child becomes familiar with the numbers as a decimal system including concrete experiences with the operations of additions, subtraction, multiplication and division. These exercises not only teach the child to calculate, but they provide a deep understanding of how numbers function. He learns concrete mathematical concepts and the materials lead him to the abstract, so that his understanding has substance. Because of the concrete nature of the materials, the child is able to work with the basics of factions and geometry.

SciencesWe use simple science experiences to introduce and illustrate the phenomenas that are observed in nature. For example, experiments dealing with evaporation and condensation lead to an understanding of the rain cycle. Other scientific experiments form the basis for the study of biology, botany, geography and geology as well as physics and chemistry. These sciences are not taught simply for their implicit value; they are taught to give the child knowledge and thereby respect for the life around him.

List of notable personalities