Why Montessori?
We know guardians have choices when it comes to their childrens instruction. We know these choices are not simple. Why do so numerous families select Montessori?
Montessori education has been successfully supporting children and families globally for over a century. The core principles remain unchanged—and for good reason. Our methods are consistently backed by current research in education and human development. As we advance into a new future, we believe Montessori is well-equipped to prepare children.
Montessori Meets Children Where They Are, Without Judgment
Traditional teaching methods were designed primarily to prepare large groups of children for the workforce. Historically, little attention was given to individualized instruction or addressing the unique needs of each child. Although this has been changing in recent years, many schools are still in the early stages of personalizing education.
Montessori schools are specifically designed to allow each child to progress at their own pace. We understand that learning is not linear and that children are not ready to learn specific skills according to an adult-imposed timeline or in perfect harmony with their peers. Children who need more support with certain skills receive it, while those ready to advance can find the challenges they crave. We don’t teach a whole class of children the same skill simultaneously; while this might seem more efficient from an adult perspective, it doesn’t necessarily serve the children best. No two individuals should be expected to develop at the same rate, and it’s our job as educators to meet children where they are and provide the support they need to reach their potential.
Our Schools Cultivate Community
A Montessori school is more than just a school. First and foremost, we are here for our students, but we believe schools have the potential to be much more. Our goal is to create meaningful connections among everyone involved. Some of the ways we achieve this include:
- Providing our educators with opportunities to connect with each other for professional growth
- Encouraging our educators to build relationships within the larger Montessori network
- Ensuring parents and educators have ample time to discuss the child’s development and needs
- Offering opportunities for parents to form relationships with one another
- Supporting families through parent education programs
- Periodically gathering as a whole school community
- Fostering bonds between children at different levels
- Reaching out to establish connections with the local community
- Giving our educators and families a voice in school decision-making
We also believe it is our responsibility to remove the guesswork from building these connections. We aim to create structures that make it easy for everyone to find commonalities and establish open lines of communication seamlessly.
“ASTEAM has been extremely fundamental in the growth and development of my child. I love how they honor family and community and the educators tend to my child with the utmost compassion and presence. We love ASTEAM.”
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Montessori Emphasizes More Than Fair Scholastics
A Montessori school is more than just an educational institution. First and foremost, we are dedicated to our students, but we believe schools have the potential to be much more. Our goal is to foster meaningful connections among everyone involved. Here are some of the ways we achieve this:
- Providing our educators with opportunities for professional growth and collaboration
- Encouraging our educators to build relationships within the broader Montessori community
- Ensuring parents and educators have ample time to discuss each child’s development and needs
- Creating opportunities for parents to connect with one another
- Supporting families through parent education programs
- Periodically gathering as a whole school community
- Fostering bonds between children at different levels
- Reaching out to establish connections with the local community
- Giving our educators and families a voice in school decision-making
We also believe it is our responsibility to simplify the process of building these connections. We aim to create structures that make it easy for everyone to find commonalities and establish open lines of communication seamlessly.
...But The Scholastics Are a Tremendous Quality
Montessori academics are often regarded as some of the highest standards in education. It is not uncommon to see four-year-olds in our schools reading and six-year-olds completing long division problems. These tasks are performed joyfully, partly because we present information in a way that allows children to discover it for themselves rather than passively absorbing facts from an adult.
Another reason Montessori students often work at an advanced academic level is due to what we call sensitive periods. Through years of observation, Dr. Maria Montessori noted that young children seem particularly ready and eager to develop certain skills during specific time periods. While there is, of course, variation among individual children, she identified some common patterns that have helped us develop our curriculum. One interesting example is the study of geometry. Many of us were first exposed to this subject in high school, but it turns out that elementary-aged children are not only interested in geometry but have a remarkable capacity to learn much more than we typically give them credit for. This is why you might hear your five-year-old talking about rectangular prisms or your six-year-old discussing the differences between isosceles, right, and scalene triangles.
Montessori Points to Lift Up Humankind
We understand that this is quite an ambitious goal. From the very beginning, Dr. Montessori saw it as her mission to improve the world through education. She believed that by giving children the honor and respect they deserved, the benefits would flow through to families, the community, and society at large. She championed equality for all people and saw education as a powerful equalizer.
Montessori schools strive for peace. This begins with teaching our youngest students to be kind and considerate toward one another. A great respect for the environment and other living creatures is another vital aspect of our work, as is fostering an appreciation for the diverse cultures around the world. Combined, these elements are designed to instill in the child a respect for themselves and others, as well as a desire to ensure connection and fairness for all.
This is often education for our rapidly changing world. Typically instruction for the longer term. Usually instruction for life.