Why Montessori?
Introducing Montessori Education
Montessori education stands as a beacon of excellence with its holistic approach to nurturing child development. It has a rich history spanning more than a century and more than 22,000 schools worldwide and Montessori’s successful track record ensures it is a proven and trusted method of supporting children’s growth and learning.
Education as a catalyst for life
At the heart of the Montessori approach is a profound belief in education as a catalyst for life. It recognises that children have an innate curiosity and thirst for knowledge, and through a carefully designed learning environment, Montessori ignites a child’s passion for lifelong learning. By honouring each child’s unique development, Montessori fosters confident, responsible and independent learners who have confidence and faith in their own abilities. Montessori’s inclusive and supportive social environment lays the foundation for a lifelong love of learning and a deep connection to knowledge.
The Montessori environment
The Montessori classroom provides children with an environment that is meticulously crafted to meet their evolving needs and where they can naturally work and explore. The classroom becomes a sanctuary for spontaneous and purposeful activities, guided by trained educators. Through their work, children develop concentration, self-discipline and joy. Within a framework of order, they progress at their own pace, embracing their individual capabilities and rhythms of learning.
The Montessori approach was developed by Dr Maria Montessori — a visionary physician, anthropologist and teacher. Her ground-breaking education method was forged through her extensive scientific observation of children from diverse backgrounds, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds from infancy to adulthood. Grounded in a deep understanding of child development, Montessori education empowers children to reach their full potential and nurtures their physical, intellectual, emotional and social growth.
Montessori in Australia
In Australia, Montessori education is available to children from eight-weeks-old. Early childhood education and care services, preschools, kindergartens and primary and secondary schools offer Montessori programs. The number of Montessori programs in Australia is growing and are mostly offered by not-for-profit, community-based associations and privately-owned programs and initiatives in public schools.
Join the Montessori journey to witness the transformative power of an education that cherishes every child’s potential and where children flourish, embrace their natural curiosity and become lifelong learners empowered to shape their world.
Montessori Versus Traditional Education
Discover the key differences between Montessori and traditional education in our comparison, below. From philosophies that shape learning to the role of the child in their education, discover the contrasting approaches that impact everything from pacing and discipline to social development and skill acquisition.
| Aspect | Montessori Education | Traditional Education |
| Philosophy | Based on helping the natural development of the human being. | Based on the transfer of a national curriculum. |
| Pacing | Children learn at their own pace and follow their own individual interests. | Children learn from a set curriculum according to a time frame that is the same for everyone. |
| Learning Approach | Children teach themselves using materials specially prepared for the purpose. | Children are taught by the teacher. |
| Role of Child | Child is an active participant in learning. | Child is a passive participant in learning. |
| Understanding | Understanding comes through the child’s own experiences via the materials and the promotion of the child’s ability to find things out for themselves. | Learning is based on subjects and is limited to what is given. |
| Learning Environment | Learning is based on the fact that physical exploration and cognition are linked. | Children sit at desks and learn from a whiteboard and worksheets. |
| Freedom of Movement | Child can work where he/she is comfortable and move around and talk at will while not disturbing others. | Child is usually assigned own chair and encouraged to sit still and to listen during group sessions. |
| Teacher’s Role | The teacher works in collaboration with the children. | The class is teacher-led. |
| Motivation | The child’s individual development brings its own reward and, therefore, motivation. | Motivation is achieved by a system of reward and punishment. |
| Discipline | Environment and method encourage internal self-discipline. | Teacher acts as the primary enforcer of external discipline. |
| Work Time | Child works as long as they wish on chosen project. | Child generally given specific time limit for work. |
| Schedule | Uninterrupted work cycles. | Block time, period lessons. |
| Age Groups | Mixed age groups. | Same age groups. |
| Social Development | Working and learning matched to the social development of the child. | Working and learning without emphasis on the social development of the child. |
| Developmental Focus | Shared emphasis on intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual development. | Main emphasis on intellectual development. |
| Skill Acquisition | Shared focus on the acquisition of academic, social, practical and life skills. | Main focus on academics. |
10 common Montessori myths
The Montessori Method has captured the imagination of parents, educators and researchers around the world with its innovative educational approach. However, myths and misunderstandings can impact our understanding.
To grasp the essence of the Montessori Method and its impact on children’s development, it is essential to separate fact from fiction. Here, we explore some common misconceptions surrounding Montessori education and provide you with a clearer understanding of the Montessori philosophy and how it benefits children of all ages.
Fact: While many Montessori schools focus on preschool education, the Montessori Method caters for children from birth to 18.
Fact: While the Montessori Method is effective for those with learning difficulties and gifted learners, its primary aim is to ensure success for all children.
Fact: The majority of Montessori schools, including Melbourne Montessori College, are independent of any religious affiliation.
Fact: In the Montessori Method, children are free to choose purposeful activities within a prepared environment guided by a Montessori-certified teacher and following the Australian Curriculum. The teacher provides lessons and models appropriate behaviour, intervening only if a child is being destructive or using materials inappropriately.
Fact: While Montessori students have the freedom to choose activities and explore possibilities on their own, teachers provide lessons to demonstrate the specific purpose of each material and guide students step-by-step.
Fact: Montessori supports children’s creativity through practical experiences that fulfill their inner needs. Fantasy play initiated by the child is encouraged as a healthy and purposeful form of problem-solving. Art and music activities are also integral parts of the Montessori classroom.
Fact: The Montessori philosophy allows each child to develop at their own pace. Montessori teachers never push children towards anything. In Montessori environments, children excel beyond traditional expectations for their age levels.
Fact: While the Montessori curriculum has adapted to include modern elements like computers, the underlying child guidance strategies remain true to Dr Montessori’s insights. Contemporary research and evaluations continue to affirm the effectiveness of the Montessori approach.
Fact: For children aged three-to-six-years-old, their work in the Montessori classroom is their play. They enjoy themselves and interact with others while art, music and drama provide opportunities for creative play.
Fact: In Montessori classrooms, children can choose to work alone or in groups, as long as they are considerate of others. While children aged three to six often prefer independent work, older students frequently collaborate in small groups. The Montessori approach does not discourage cooperation; it aligns with the developmental needs of each age group.
The Montessori Method highlights the inclusive and child-centred nature of Montessori education. If you would like to learn more, please book a tour to see our classrooms in action.
The Four Planes of Development
In Montessori philosophy, there are two critical terms: ‘sensitive periods’ and ‘planes of development.’ For Montessori teachers, these terms shape structure and guidance within the classroom.
During these stages of development, children exhibit heightened openness to certain concepts and acquiring new skills, so educators design the curriculum accordingly.
The child has a creative aptitude, a potential energy that will enable it to build up a mental world from the world around it. He makes numerous acquisitions during the sensitive periods, which put him in relation to the other world in an exceptionally intense manner
Dr Maria Montessori
The Secret of Childhood
Understanding the planes of development is crucial for comprehending the Montessori educational approach.
About the Planes of Development
Dr Montessori identified four Planes of Development:
- Infancy (0-6 years old)
- Childhood (6-12 years old)
- Adolescence (12-18 years old)
- Maturity (18-24 years old)
The early childhood period consists of two stages: the unconscious stage from birth to approximately three-years-old, and the conscious stage that spans three to six-years-old. Montessori referred to this period as the ‘Absorbent Mind’ because children absorb information from their surroundings like sponges.
Understanding Sensitive Periods
Sensitive periods play a crucial role in a comprehensive Montessori program. Montessori observed that sensitive periods are windows of opportunity when a child is most receptive and motivated to learn a specific skill.
Although most sensitive periods occur from birth to six-years-old, they align with broader stages of development. The sensitive periods include:
- Refining fine motor skills: Birth to 4.5 years
- Using the senses: Birth to 5 years
- Language abilities: Birth to 6 years
- Image assimilation: Birth to 6 years
- Order: 6 months to 5 years
- Handling small objects: 1 to 3 years
- Grace and courtesy: 2 to 5 years
- Music: 2 to 6 years
- Reading: 3 to 5.5 years
- Writing: 3.5 to 5.5 years
- Arithmetic: 4 to 6 years
Why do the Planes of Development matter?
You can use the Planes of Development to help guide and educate your child by providing your child with gentle contact, plenty of opportunities to explore, having meaningful conversations, and nurturing bonds – all these fulfil a child’s inherent desires during infancy.
Young children develop a strong inclination towards order between six-months and three-years-old and this often goes unnoticed by parents. When your toddler throws a tantrum it’s likely triggered by a disruption in their sense of order. For example, if they know they get a snack at 2.00 pm and that snack doesn’t arrive, they can become confused or upset.
If you understand the importance of maintaining order, particularly during this sensitive period, you can help your child learn to manage expectations and develop a healthy lifestyle. By demonstrating how to maintain order in their environment, you can witness them fulfilling their innate desire for order on their own.
Developing the senses and language
The Planes of Development also provide an early advantage with language development. Around two-and-a-half-years of age, children are drawn to sensations, sounds and letter shapes and approximately two years later, their interest naturally progresses towards reading and writing.
Montessori makes the most of this special period using materials that engage children’s senses to teach sounds and letter shapes. These include sandpaper letters that children can trace with their fingers — the tactile experience helps them remember each letter shape while sounding it out.
As children progress, their fascination with letter shapes enables them to start writing letters and then to read.
Leveraging the Planes of Development
The Planes of Development play a crucial role in a child’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual growth and understanding these stages, especially the Absorbent Mind and the sensitive periods, benefits parents and teachers. By knowing what aspects interest a child during specific periods, parents can better nurture their development.
Enrolling your child in a Montessori program, such as Melbourne Montessori College, ensures each stage of development and the associated sensitive periods are supported. We follow consistent principles aligned with these stages and foster a lifelong love of learning while instilling confidence, independence and compassion.
A look into Cosmic Education
Cosmic Education holds a central position in Montessori philosophy and shines a light on the interconnectedness of all things. It encompasses a comprehensive, holistic and purposeful approach to education that nurtures the development of the whole individual. It also introduces the idea that humanity has a profound ‘cosmic task’ to improve the world for future generations.
Dr Maria Montessori recognised the vital importance of Cosmic Education in early childhood education, as it provides children with a framework to comprehend and find their place within their world.
Through Cosmic Education, children cultivate respect for the wisdom of the past, develop an ethical understanding, and appreciate the valuable contributions of others. By fostering this awareness, Cosmic Education instils a sense of the interdependence of all things and encourages gratitude as children discover harmony and interconnectedness.
Cosmic Education in the classroom
In the Montessori classroom, Cosmic Education is a foundation for teaching children to understand and adapt to their environment. In the first plane of development (0-6 years), Cosmic Education introduces children to the natural world through hands-on experiences with nature and sensorial learning materials.
These experiences enable children to refine their senses, enhance their perception and comprehension of the world, and facilitate their personal development, self-confidence and understanding of themselves, society and the broader world.
During the second plane of development (6-12 years), Cosmic Education acquaints children with the world’s recurring natural cycles, the universal needs shared by humans, and the interconnectedness of all living beings.
In junior years, children begin to perceive the intricate connections between particles, substances, species and events, recognising the purpose each entity serves in the development of others. These ‘Great Lessons of Cosmic Education’ form an integrated curriculum and demonstrate how diverse subjects such as history, culture, science and the environment are interwoven.
The transition to adolescence
Dr Maria Montessori believed that children who receive a Cosmic Education in their formative years are better equipped to transition into adolescence as independent, socially responsible and emotionally intelligent individuals.
Cosmic Education equips children with a profound understanding of their own identities, their place in humanity, and their role as citizens of the universe. It also gives them a profound sense of moral responsibility to address global issues that impact humanity and the environment. In Montessori education, every moment is an opportunity to comprehend the unity and integrity of the universe.
Why is Cosmic Education relevant today?
Dr Montessori viewed the world as purposeful and saw war, poverty and injustice as deviations from its true potential. She believed that Cosmic Education could restore harmony and order, enabling humanity to fulfill its inherent promise.
In the 21st century, global awareness, peaceful communication and ethical cooperation are crucial for resolving global conflicts. By providing students with a Cosmic Education, Montessori education empowers them with knowledge and skills to transform the world positively.
Maria Tecla Artemisia Montessori
Chiaravalle, Italy
August 31, 1870 — May 6, 1952
Maria Montessori was an Italian physician, educator and innovator who was acclaimed for her pioneering work in child development.
Maria Montessori
Born in Chiaravalle, Italy, Dr Montessori defied society’s expectations when she pursued studies in a then male-dominated field and earned a degree in medicine in 1896.
Her interest in pedagogy led her to work with children with disabilities and this is where she developed her innovative teaching methods. In 1907, Dr Montessori opened her first Casa dei Bambini, or ‘Children’s House’, in a low-income district of Rome. Her educational approach emphasised self-directed learning, hands-on activities and a carefully-prepared environment.
Dr Montessori’s methods gained international attention and were adopted in schools worldwide. She continued to refine her approach, emphasising the importance of freedom within limits, respect for the child, and the role of the environment in learning.
Despite facing opposition from traditional educational establishments, Dr Montessori’s ideas spread. She established Montessori training programs and published numerous books and articles on her educational philosophy.
Her legacy endures today in Montessori schools around the globe. Her emphasis on nurturing a child’s natural curiosity, independence and love of learning continues to influence educators and parents.
The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind
Dr Maria Montessori
Montessori Classrooms
A Montessori classroom nurtures a child’s natural development and learning process.
The room is typically divided into several areas, each containing specific materials and activities that engage and stimulate children at different stages of their development. Activities foster practical life skills, sensorial experiences, language development, mathematics, and cultural subjects.
Children are free to choose activities within a structured environment, which promotes independence and self-directed learning. Montessori materials are self-correcting, allowing children to learn through exploration and discovery, and they are displayed on shelves that are easy for children to access.
The Montessori classroom supports mixed-age groups, so younger children learn from older classmates and older children reinforce their knowledge by teaching younger children. This fosters a sense of community and collaboration.
The Montessori classroom is carefully crafted to nurture curiosity, creativity and love of learning.
Why choose Montessori for your child
There are many reasons why families choose a Montessori education for their children – from the emphasis on independence, critical thinking and children being able to explore interests at their own pace to the non-competitive learning environment.
Explore interests
Montessori fosters a love for learning by allowing children to explore their interests at their own pace.
Developing skills
Children develop independence, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Mixed-age
Our classrooms are mixed-age and this encourages mentorship and collaboration.
Montessori method
The Montessori method emphasises respect for self, others and the environment.
Holistic approach
Montessori education is holistic – it nurtures a child’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive development.
Practical skills
Children experience a well-rounded education that includes a focus on practical life skills and the arts.
Prepare for real-world
Montessori prepares children for real-world challenges by teaching responsibility and self-discipline.
Supportive environment
Children benefit from a supportive, non-competitive environment that values their unique qualities.
