What Is Montessori

What is Montessori

Introduction to Montessori Education

Montessori is a scientific approach to early childhood education that was developed by Physician, Anthropologist, and Pedagogue, Doctor Maria Montessori (1870-1952) more than 100 years ago. It offers a broad view of education as an aid and a preparation for life. The Montessori approach is based on scientific research into the process of how children learn as they progress from birth to adulthood. Montessori recognised that every child is born with natural intelligence that can only develop with the right stimulation during their first years of life.


Core Montessori Beliefs

  • All children are born intelligent
  • Children have an absorbent mind
  • The first six years of life are crucial in a child’s development
  • Education should focus on preparing the whole child
  • Learning should be individually focused and self-paced
  • The educator’s role is to guide and enrich each individual’s learning process
  • Motivation to learn should come from within
  • Children learn best through exploration, problem solving, and experience
Join Our Montessori

Call To Enrol Your Child
03 90087277
0434 555516
info@leadingbees.com.au

There are many differences between Montessori early education and play-based childcare. The core differences stem from the Montessori Curriculum, Montessori Materials, educator roles, and the Prepared Environment. Montessori Education is designed to provide children with the optimal learning environment to nurture their full potential.

How is Montessori Different?



What is the Montessori Difference?

Unlike traditional preschools and childcare centres, Montessori early learning centres are designed to nurture children’s complete development by providing them with the optimal learning environment, educational materials, and teaching guidance to discover their potential.

Montessori learning is largely active, individually paced, often self-correcting, and tailored to the needs and interests of each individual child. The ultimate goal of Montessori education is to prepare children with the knowledge and skills to become confident, independent, and courageous life-long learners.




Key Differences of

Montessori Education

  • Individualised learning tailored to each child’s stage of development, interests, and needs
  • All learning styles addressed
  • Montessori materials encourage hands-on learning through repetition and practice
  • Montessori Curriculum focuses on educating the whole child
  • Prepared classroom environments
  • Montessori Work Cycle
  • Freedom of movement and choice
  • Emphasis on learning through repetition and practice
  • Focus on intrinsic motivation
  • Freedom within limits


Traditional Education

  • Education Programs solely based on the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the transfer of the National Curriculum
  • Group paced lessons
  • Largely play based and project-based learning
  • Children learn by playing with available resources
  • The classroom offers play-based learnings experiences
  • Children’s learning is assessed against developmental milestones and EYLF
  • Classroom structure changes
  • Focus on praise and external motivation
  • Classroom rules




Key Differences of

Montessori Education

Montessori education is unique in its profound respect for a child's sincere desire and ability to learn, and in its recognition of his need for independence. A balanced attention to intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual development is regarded as fundamental to their progress and enjoyment in learning.

Unlike traditional preschools and childcare centres, Montessori learning is designed to nurture children’s complete development by providing them with the optimal learning environment, learning materials and guidance to discover their potential. Montessori learning is largely active, individually paced, often self-correcting, and tailored to the needs and interests of each individual child. The ultimate goals of Montessori Education are independence and preparing children with the tools and skills to become successful life-long learners.




How is Montessori Education is Difference?

Individualised Curriculum

Montessori learning programs are personalised to each child based on their unique stage of development, interests, and needs. Lessons with the Montessori materials are presented one-on-one based on each child’s academic progress. Educators track each child’s progress and support them as they progress through the curriculum.


The Montessori classroom is referred to as the ‘prepared environment’ because it is purposefully arranged by a trained Montessori educator to create the optimal learning environment for children. The environment is characterised by beauty, order and accessibility. Furniture, learning materials, and sinks are child-sized to support children’s independence. Shelves are open and accessible to invite interest and exploration. Everything has a purpose and a place.

Prepared Environment



Montessori Materials

Montessori materials are hands-on learning tools that guide children to discover key learning outcomes through repetition and practice. Montessori materials isolate one concept or skill and are designed with an in-built control of error. This allows children to discover the outcome of the material through independent exploration at their own pace. As children progress through the curriculum, the Montessori materials increase in complexity, providing opportunities to extend on learning.


Doctor Maria Montessori observed that children learn best when they are free to move, free to choose their own work, and follow their interests. In a Montessori classroom, children are free to move around the prepared environment, work where they feel they will learn best, and discover learning outcomes through hands-on experience. Montessori learning is largely active, individually paced, often self-correcting, and tailored to the needs and interests of each individual child.

Freedom of Movement and Choice



Intrinsic Motivation

The Montessori approach takes the view that learning is it’s own reward. In the Montessori classroom there’s aren’t any gold stars to reward children’s learning. Instead, children derive a sense of accomplishment from completing an activity and learning to do it for themselves.


The Montessori work cycle is an extended period of “free choice” when children explore the prepared environment and work with intuitive Montessori materials without interruption. The Montessori work cycle encourages students to deeply engage in their own learning process.

Work Cycle



Auto-Education

One of the core principles of the Montessori Method is the concept of auto-education. It’s based on the belief that children are capable and willing to teach themselves if they are provided with interesting learning stimulus. Montessori materials were developed to meet this need and empower children with the ability to direct their own education. Montessori educators provide the prepared environment, guidance, and the encouragement for children to educate themselves.


Freedom within limits refers to the ground rules of the Montessori classroom. Children have the freedom to follow their own interests, move freely, and choose their work, as long as their behaviour is reasonable and acceptable.

Freedom Within Limits



Teacher Roles

The role of the Montessori educator is to observe, track, and guide each child’s learning progress. They observe children’s interests, direct them towards activities suited to their stage of development, and create a positive atmosphere for learning. They present individual lessons that are brief and precise, and allow children to discover learning outcomes on their own, and in their own time.


Montessori education is focused on nurturing each child’s potential by providing learning experiences that support their intellectual, physical, emotional and social development. In addition to language and mathematics, the Montessori Curriculum also covers practical life, sensorial, and culture. All aspects of children’s development and learning are intertwined and viewed as equally important.

Educating the Whole Child