The Montessori Philosophy
At Charlevoix Children's House we celebrate the child! We are a Montessori community dedicated to providing a learning environment that guides, nurtures, and enriches the individual.
Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, developed the Montessori Philosophy and method of education in 1896. The premise of her work is that children interact with materials and learn from their environment, not from the teacher. Maria Montessori developed what she called the prepared environment. Among its features is an ordered arrangement of learning materials in a noncompetitive atmosphere, which helps each child develop at his/her own rate. Children learn through doing. A child's play is a child's work. At Charlevoix Children's House, the process, not the product, is taught. The ultimate goal is that each child be responsible for his or her own education.
Aspects of the Montessori Approach
Practical life materials are usually the first to attract the children. They provide a way to learn specific skills, develop coordination and grow in independence. These activities include pouring, polishing, scrubbing, preparing snacks, gardening, carpentry and games to introduce social skills.
Sensorial materials help the child to refine his/her senses and his/her ability to explore through sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. He/she begins to classify and organize his/her environment.
Language - oral expression, sound games, letter recognition, writing and reading are “absorbed” naturally and joyfully during this period.
Mathematics is presented in concrete form to prepare for later abstractions of such concepts as the decimal system, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions and the beginnings of plane and solid geometry.
Cultural Subjects are presented to the child as short, vivid impressions. The child is then encouraged to explore and experiment. Varied art media, music, creative movement, science and social studies are presented at the child’s individual level.
At Charlevoix Children's House we celebrate the child! We are a Montessori community dedicated to providing a learning environment that guides, nurtures, and enriches the individual.
Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, developed the Montessori Philosophy and method of education in 1896. The premise of her work is that children interact with materials and learn from their environment, not from the teacher. Maria Montessori developed what she called the prepared environment. Among its features is an ordered arrangement of learning materials in a noncompetitive atmosphere, which helps each child develop at his/her own rate. Children learn through doing. A child's play is a child's work. At Charlevoix Children's House, the process, not the product, is taught. The ultimate goal is that each child be responsible for his or her own education.
Aspects of the Montessori Approach
Practical life materials are usually the first to attract the children. They provide a way to learn specific skills, develop coordination and grow in independence. These activities include pouring, polishing, scrubbing, preparing snacks, gardening, carpentry and games to introduce social skills.
Sensorial materials help the child to refine his/her senses and his/her ability to explore through sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. He/she begins to classify and organize his/her environment.
Language - oral expression, sound games, letter recognition, writing and reading are “absorbed” naturally and joyfully during this period.
Mathematics is presented in concrete form to prepare for later abstractions of such concepts as the decimal system, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions and the beginnings of plane and solid geometry.
Cultural Subjects are presented to the child as short, vivid impressions. The child is then encouraged to explore and experiment. Varied art media, music, creative movement, science and social studies are presented at the child’s individual level.
Other Links:
Official International Website http://www.montessori.edu/
American Montessori Society http://www.amshq.org/
Suggested Reading:
The Secret of Childhood - Maria Montessori
Montessori, A Modern Approach - P. P. Lillard
The Hidden Hinge - Rosa Packard
The Absorbent Mind - Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori - Her Life and Work - E. M. Standing
Official International Website http://www.montessori.edu/
American Montessori Society http://www.amshq.org/
Suggested Reading:
The Secret of Childhood - Maria Montessori
Montessori, A Modern Approach - P. P. Lillard
The Hidden Hinge - Rosa Packard
The Absorbent Mind - Maria Montessori
Maria Montessori - Her Life and Work - E. M. Standing
