Nurturing Children & Enriching Families

Montessori preschools, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in the early 1900s, focus on child-centered learning where children have the freedom to choose their activities. Unlike many traditional preschools that prioritize unstructured play, Montessori classrooms treat play as "work" and utilize specific materials to enhance learning. This approach fosters organic, self-paced discovery, with teachers serving as guides rather than directors.

One of the standout features of Montessori education is the mixed-age classroom, where children aged 3 to 6 learn together. This setup allows younger students to observe and learn from their older peers, while older children reinforce their skills by mentoring younger classmates. Research indicates that children thrive academically and socially in such environments, benefit from peer learning, and develop essential skills like cooperation and confidence. Montessori education promotes independence and cultivates a sense of community, making it a holistic approach to early childhood education.

At Early World Montessori, we embrace a full Montessori approach. However, if you're seeking a blend of traditional play-based methods with Montessori principles, our sister schools offer a unique combination of both! In addition, they provide an integrated science-based curriculum that emphasizes inquiry and hands-on exploration. You can find more information about these schools.

The Montessori environment is equipped with a wide variety of material. Maria Montessori designed activities to develop a child’s skills in a wide range of life areas. Specific units are designed to expose children to the following areas: practical life, sensorial experiences, science, mathematics and geometry, language arts, geography, music, art, movement and physical education.

Practical life encourages skill development in daily living tasks; the activities each of us perform on a regular basis to care for ourselves and our environment. This area of the classroom includes such activities as pouring, bow tying, dish washing, polishing, hammering, food preparation and many others.

Sensorial materials stimulate awareness of size relationships, colors, sounds, and tactile qualities. These activities refine and develop the child’s senses and organize the information received through the senses. Manipulative materials allow the child to experiment in a concrete way.

Mathematics, geometry, language, geography and science activities provide academic stimulation. The math and language materials develop visual discrimination skills and provide a foundation for future learning by developing mathematical and phonetic concepts. The science and geography areas contain activities that increase the child’s understanding of the world.

Movement, music, and art enrich the program and contribute to the child’s growth. Each child spends time in a “circle” daily, learning new songs and movement games, as well as enjoying old ones. Puppets and dramatic play enrich the fantasy experience. Children express thoughts, feelings, and experiences graphically through art materials.