Many have become accustomed to conventional schooling styles that involve worksheets, desks and verbal-only lessons.
A Montessori classroom has what is called the prepared environment, which is the concept that the classroom should be designed to facilitate maximum independent learning and exploration by the child. All appropriate materials are within reach of the children making learning more accessible. Students have the freedom to choose their own lessons and are encouraged to explore and expand on them. In our classroom we like to call this “freedom within limits.”
In our classrooms, children have freedom but they also have guidelines to keep them safe, learn, and grow. This delicate balance between freedom and its limits leads to the self awareness and self discipline of the children in a Montessori environment which influences their decisions in everyday life outside of the classroom. Rather than learning through praise or external reward systems, we teach the children to look within themselves and find pride in the work they are doing. These limits are modeled by our Guides and taught to the students through Grace and Courtesy lessons. Children learn that they are part of a classroom community, so they must all work together with respect to take care of their environment.
