What is Montessori?

The Montessori method is an observation-based pedagogy and curriculum, grounded in child development, and designed to be responsive to each child’s unique academic, social-emotional, and physical needs. With a commitment to giving children choice with responsibility and freedom within structure, Montessori has long been regarded for its collaborative and peaceful communities of children engaged in joyful learning.

When you walk into a Montessori early childhood classroom, four things stand out: 1) children of multiple ages learning in the same room 2) the beauty and order of the classroom, with child-sized wooden tables and low shelves of neatly arranged manipulative materials 3) a harmonious hum of children going about their chosen activities, and 4) the teacher either actively observing or giving small group or individualized lessons.

Montessori early childhood classrooms, often called primary classrooms, are designed to include children ages three to six years old in a mixed-age classroom. (When regulations or funding don’t allow for this, programs make modifications for preK-only or stand-alone kindergarten.) Mixed-aged classrooms allow children to experience being the newcomer as well as the leader. Multiple years in the same classroom also gives children the opportunity to interact with the learning materials at increasing levels of complexity by first watching, then doing and, finally, modeling for others. A classroom with materials designed for a range of ages naturally accommodates children at all developmental and skill levels.

Montessori classrooms are carefully prepared to be beautiful and inviting, with natural materials, plants, curated décor, and a home-like atmosphere. The environment is scaled to the children; tables and chairs, materials, shelves, and sinks are all easily accessible. The materials are grouped into sections by subject area: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language and Literacy, and Mathematics. Science, social studies, art, music, and movement are integrated throughout each of these subject areas. There are low shelves lined with neatly organized learning materials, such as beads, blocks, sandpaper letters, puzzles, art, and instruments. Each material allows the practice of a specific skill or concept, and everything is designed and placed to draw the child’s interest and allow independent exploration.

An observer in this environment might see a child take a woven rug from a basket and unroll it on the floor, carefully select a tray of materials of their choosing from the shelf, and then concentrate on that activity for as long as they want. When done, the child will place the materials back on the tray, replace the tray on the shelf so it is ready for the next child, and carefully roll the rug back up and return it to the basket. Children are peaceful and content as they emerge from this self-directed period of sustained focus and are ready to decide on their next activity.

Montessori teachers support children's developing agency and self-regulation through preparation of the learning environment, clear and consistent expectations, close observation, and targeted lessons. After observing each child’s needs and interests, teachers provide individual or small group lessons. Once a child has received a lesson, they are allowed to work on it at their own pace. Teachers keep meticulous records to track each child’s progress and determine which lessons should be introduced or revisited. They exercise restraint to give children room to explore, make mistakes, and figure things out for themselves. Montessori teachers hold a deep respect for children’s natural development and agency. Teachers gain the perspective, knowledge, and skills for this approach through comprehensive Montessori teacher education programs. Deep dives into both child development and the Montessori method prepare teachers to see children through a lens of awe and respect. Teachers graduate able to confidently manage the implementation of a Montessori classroom in any early childhood setting.

It’s no wonder that Montessori early learning environments have thrived over the past 00 years and continue to surge in popularity today. Not only are children peaceful and joyful while learning, but research has also found long-term benefits to the Montes- sori method. A meta-analysis of over 2,000 school-aged children in Montessori schools links the Montessori method to statistically significant improvements in math and literacy, stronger social skills, more respectful and cooperative classroom environments, and the long-term persistence of children’s intrinsic motivation. These benefits were observed regardless of school level, geographic area, or socioeconomic factors (Randolph et al., 2023).

The Montessori method offers a compelling vision for the future of education— an approach with proven outcomes that puts children at the center, promotes human flourishing across domains, and fosters curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.