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Montessori Children's House
5003 218th Ave. NE
Redmond, WA 98053
425-868-7805
About Montessori
Who was Maria Montessori?
Maria Montessori was Italy’s first woman physician. Through her scientific and
medical work, she became interested in the development of the child. In 1907 Dr.
Montessori established the first Children’s House in Rome. She then dedicated
her life to creating educational methods based on the scientific
observation of
children and their developmental needs. She observed that children are happiest
and most satisfied when they are concentrating on tasks that help to fulfill
their inner drive toward independence. One of her most profound realizations is
the idea that children learn through doing: education is an active,
all-encompassing process for children. And the educational environment must
serve that need.
Dr. Montessori brought her radical notion of building an educational environment
that reflects the child’s true needs to America in 1915 at the San Francisco
Exposition. In later years she expanded her ideas to encompass infants,
elementary, and teenage children. Throughout her life, Dr. Montessori worked
tirelessly as an advocate for children. Her educational ideas and methods are in
use all over the globe.
What is the Montessori Method?
The Montessori Method is a philosophy and
system of education based on the child’s innate ability to develop and grow
independently and at her own pace in a carefully prepared, non-competitive
environment. Following his own developmental interests, the child manipulates
and experiments with materials in the different subject areas, of the classroom.
Social development takes place in a unique atmosphere of freedom and structure
founded on respect.
What are sensitive periods?
Children experience critical
learning periods at specific times during development. Dr. Montessori called these critical
openings “sensitive periods” and they are often called “windows of opportunity” by
today’s educational psychologists. During these times, children display acute
interest in specific kinds of activities and strive to acquire a specific set of
skills and knowledge. Montessori environments are designed to offer activities
that match the many different sensitive periods.
Who guides the children?
The teacher in the Montessori environment acts
as a guide for the child. Through careful observation and assessment, the
teacher leads each child toward educational, social and emotional goals.
Children progress individually without limitations. All of the Lead Teachers at
MCH are Montessori certified.
The Montessori classroom supports the learning of children
within three-year age cycles. The multi-age classroom provides a myriad of
enormous benefits to children, and is supported by the most current educational
psychology.