Montessori Philosophy Overview

Montessori education may be viewed as the ongoing response to human development at every stage of life. Psychological and intellectual growth occurs as routinely as physical growth, given optimum conditions. Children around the age of three are ready and able to continue their growth and development in a separate social community which complements their home experience. A Montessori environment provides materials and assistance to children as they grow. It respects the power of the child to absorb knowledge from everything and everyone around them.

The adults in a Montessori classroom are responsible for creating and maintaining a stimulating and useful environment, and they are responsible for putting the child in touch with their environment. The adults are facilitators who provide whatever help is needed and who refrain from interfering, directing, controlling, choosing, and giving unneeded assistance. Montessori adults set limits within which children are free to act.

Experience, observation, and experimentation have led to a strong supportive underlying knowledge of what seems to be most useful and interesting to children and in what order the needs and interests come. It is this foundation which enables a group of 30 or more children of varying ages (but within the same developmental period) to function smoothly.

Parent Education Opportunities in the Lower School at Clariden

It is the school's intention to provide parent support and education throughout the year.  We offer a number of programs and resources to help orient parents to Montessori education and to familiarize you with different curriculum areas.  Please click here for more information.