The Guiding Principles of Montessori Education
Environment
Provide an environment that encourages independence and allows each child the freedom to direct their own life and explore their own path to empowerment.
Natural Learning
Support each child’s natural learning process by focusing on their developmental needs and interests, using the child’s “Sensitive Periods” as your guide.
Multi-Age
Create a diverse, multi-age learning community.
Concentration
Help the child cultivate concentration. Respect engagement wherever it occurs.
Spontaneous
Make learning a springboard to spontaneous exploration and discovery, creative self-expression and community service.
Responsibility
Foster balanced and broad band human capability: spiritual awareness, ethical decision making, emotional intelligence, executive functions, social responsibility, and a healthy lifestyle.
Movement & Cooperation
Provide freedom of movement and engage the senses.
Foster cooperation not competition.
Peaceful
Help each child become a peaceful individual and peacemaker within the classroom, local, and global communities
Balance
Keep conscious of the delicate balance of freedom within limits, providing positive and respectful guidance to support the child’s development of inner discipline, strength of character, and respect for others.
Normalization
Be a living example of “normalization”. Use daily reflective practices to gain self-awareness of what you bring to the classroom and to spiritually prepare yourself each day for each child
Trust
Trust the child to show their true nature and needs through meaningful work. Observe and honor each “tiny and delicate manifestation of the opening life in the child’s soul”.
Order
Prepare and present the educational environment with grace, order, and patience