A Montessori school, with its focus on child-led learning, independent thought, and creative exploration, offers a valuable alternative to Gifted and Talented (G&T) programs. For parents who feel discouraged about not securing a seat in a gifted education program, the Montessori methodology serves as a balm. 

Here are three compelling reasons why: 

1. Montessori education cultivates the development of the whole child – not just his or her academic side; 
2. It fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills; and 
3. It promotes independent learning

Enrolling your child in a Montessori school can serve as an alternative path to provide gifted education for your child.

What Is Montessori Education?

What makes the Montessori method distinct can be broken down into three aspects – philosophy, unique manipulatives, and methodical classroom setup. Here is a summary of the key elements that parents should know about:

• Uses the constructivist or “discovery” model emphasizes learning through hands-on experiences rather than direct instruction. 
• Incorporates tons of natural and aesthetically pleasing materials, such as wood, for specialized educational resources. 
• The learning environment is thoughtfully designed, organized by subject area, accessible to children, and appropriately sized. 
• Uninterrupted blocks of work time, ideally three hours long, allow for deep concentration and engagement. 
• Mixed-age classrooms are common, accommodating children from ages 2+1⁄2 or 3 to 6 years old, but classrooms for older age groups also exist. This is to foster peer-to-peer learning.
• Students are given freedom within certain limits. 
• Teachers are trained to observe and understand a child’s unique characteristics, tendencies, talents, and abilities.
• Montessori introduces children to letters and words through multi-sensory, hands-on activities. Children first learn phonetic sounds, followed by word formation, and gradually move towards reading.
• The Montessori approach to math is also hands-on, using specifically designed materials to introduce concepts of number, size, quantity, and operations. Children gradually move from concrete manipulation of objects to abstract thinking. Quantities ranging from 0 to 10, along with their corresponding symbols, are initially introduced individually before being combined. Soon after, larger quantities and symbols such as tens, hundreds, and thousands, as well as fractions, are introduced, all through the use of tangible materials. This approach ensures a comprehensive understanding and facilitates a seamless learning experience.

What our family has loved most about the Montessori approach is that it is flexible, it cultivates independence, and it is academically the strongest early childhood learning academic framework around. 

The thing with Montessori education though is that it was created more than 100 years ago, so the base model is amazing, but it needs to be updated as children age in my opinion. The world that Maria Montessori operated in didn’t have ChatGPT or coder bros, and these innovations have changed not just the types of jobs our kids will have, but our worlds themself. 

For this reason, I have to be honest that the Montessori method is great for preschool, nursery school, and Kindergarten. After the early elementary school years though, STEM/STEAM teaching philosophies should be introduced as children grow. 

Montessori Terminology

You’ll encounter some terminology specific to Montessori schools and the teaching approach – some important ones are included below:

• Sensitive Periods: Montessori recognized that children go through specific phases where they are particularly receptive to learning different skills or knowledge areas – these are referred to as sensitive periods. 
• Prepared Environment: This term refers to the carefully crafted surroundings that foster independence, exploration, and learning in a Montessori classroom. It’s designed to be engaging and appropriate for the child’s stage of development.
• Planes of Development: Montessori believed that children develop in four stages, or planes, each with unique characteristics and developmental needs.
• Practical Life Skills: Montessori emphasizes the teaching of everyday life skills—like cleaning up or getting dressed—to foster independence.

Why Parents Choose A Montessori School

• Authentic choice time: Throughout the day, children can explore a multitude of activity stations, offering a wide array of options to choose from.
• No lectures: Teachers actively engaging with different groups of students instead of remaining stationary at the front of the classroom.
• Self confidence is preserved: The Montessori grading system focuses on individual progress and in-depth understanding. It refrains from using traditional letter grades or percentages, which often foster competition among students. This approach encourages children to learn at their own pace, fostering self-motivation, and encouraging a lifelong love for learning.
• Emphasis on hands-on independent learning: Montessori education places a strong emphasis on hands-on, independent learning, allowing children to explore and interact with the world around them at their own pace. This approach encourages critical thinking, self-discovery, and fosters an innate sense of curiosity, fueling a lifelong passion for learning.
• Independence is a mainstay: Independence isn’t merely encouraged—it’s a fundamental principle. This child-centered educational approach fosters an environment where learners are given the autonomy to make choices and take ownership of their learning journey, promoting resilience, self-reliance, and self-esteem.
• Cultivates love for learning: Montessori education cultivates a love for learning by fostering an environment of curiosity and exploration, allowing children to lead their own educational journeys. It encourages the discovery of personal interests and strengths, thus nurturing intrinsic motivation and a lifelong passion for knowledge.
• Inclusive of special needs: The Montessori approach offers a nurturing, inclusive environment for special needs children, emphasizing individual learning styles and pacing. This personalized, adaptive framework respects unique abilities and potential, thereby promoting self-confidence, independence, and the holistic development of all learners.

Why Parents DON’T Choose A Montessori School

• It can be expensive: While Montessori education provides a rich, child-centered learning environment, its high cost can inadvertently contribute to exclusivity. The significant financial investment required may place Montessori schools out of reach for many families, limiting access to this innovative educational approach. Because this education philosophy turns traditional public-school curriculum upside down, most Montessori programs are private, pricey, and admissions-regulating.
• It’s not accessible to everyone: $$$$ aside, Montessori education is not accessible to everyone due to its geographic distribution and economic constraints. Many regions still lack Montessori schools, and the high tuition rates can deter lower-income families, leaving a significant portion of the population unable to benefit from this educational approach.
• Curriculum may be too loose for some: Some families may perceive the Montessori curriculum as being too unstructured, with its emphasis on freedom within boundaries and self-directed learning. Parents accustomed to traditional educational models may find it challenging to appreciate this open-ended approach, concerned that their child might miss out on essential academic skills without explicit instruction and standardized assessments.
• Independence isn’t everything: while the Montessori method fosters independence, this attribute isn’t necessarily the be-all and end-all of education. The emphasis on autonomy could potentially overlook other vital facets of learning such as creativity, which thrives in settings where ideas can be bounced off others, fostering unique collaborations and innovative solutions.
• The open-ended structure of the classroom can be intimidating: The open-ended structure of the Montessori classroom can be intimidating to some students who may feel overwhelmed by the absence of strict guidelines and predefined structures. This lack of rigid structure might make it challenging for them to organize their thoughts and activities, which could potentially hinder their learning progress.

What parents should know about the Montessori concept of 4 planes of development

 credit: AMI Montessori

The Montessori concept of development is divided into four planes. 

• The first plane (ages 0-6) is the period of the ‘Absorbent Mind’, where children effortlessly imbibe knowledge and skills from their environment. This is where Buoyant Bloomer’s insistence on parents leveraging their children’s golden window of opportunity comes in. Learning is so easy at this stage – it’s criminal to waste this time period. 
• In the second plane (ages 6-12), kids move towards more abstract reasoning, developing moral sense and social consciousness. 
• The third plane (ages 12-18) corresponds to adolescence, a period of self-discovery, creativity and focus on social justice. 
• The last plane (ages 18-24) marks the transition into adulthood, with emphasis on self-expression, establishing independence and exploring personal purpose in life. 

Within the absorbent mind plane, there are distinct stages including: 

• Acquisition of Language, which starts from birth and continues up to around 6 years, focusing on nurturing the child’s natural propensity for language. 
• Interest in Small Objects is observed from around 18 months to 3 years old, where children show heightened interest in exploring small objects. 
• Order occurs from approximately 1 to 3 years old. During this stage, children seek to make sense of their world by categorizing and ordering their experiences. 
• Sensory Refinement spans from birth to around 4 years old. In this stage, children refine their senses through exploration and interaction with their environment.

Confusion clarification: though there are four planes of development, they don’t neatly correspond to classroom groupings at a Montessori school. There are seven: 

• Infant (0-18m)
• Toddler (18m-3 years)
• Children’s House (3-6 years)
• Lower Elementary (6-9 years)
• Upper Elementary (9-12 years)
• Middle School (12-15 years)
• High School (15-18 years)

Montessori employs mixed-age classrooms to create a complete three-year cycle, allowing children to delve into exploration, experimentation, and mastery. This approach ensures a comprehensive learning experience while fostering growth, curiosity, and expertise.

History of Montessori Education 

Montessori education was the brainchild of Dr. Maria Montessori in the early 20th century. Dr. Montessori firmly believed that children thrive in an environment where they have the autonomy to choose what they learn. This foundational philosophy continues to shape Montessori classrooms, fostering a love for learning and empowering children to take charge of their education.

A brilliant Italian physician, Dr. Montessori developed an educational approach inspired by her observations of children learning authentically. In her first ‘Children’s House’ in Rome, she introduced uniquely designed learning materials that catered to the children’s innate curiosity and thirst for knowledge, shattering the prevalent rigid educational norms. The success of this first school garnered international attention, leading to the establishment of Montessori schools across the globe.

The World War II era posed significant challenges for Montessori Education. Despite this, Dr. Montessori’s undeterred spirit fueled her to further refine and spread her educational philosophy. Today, with over 22,000 schools in 110 countries, Montessori Education is hailed as a revolutionary system that cultivates lifelong learners who are the architects of their own education.

What to expect in infant and toddler programs at a Montessori school

Classrooms for children under three fall into two main types. Montessori programs for children under three include: 1) the ‘Nido’ or ‘Infant community’, designed for children from birth to around 18 months, and 2) the ‘Toddler community’, for children from 18 months to 3 years. 

Children under three years old will thrive in a classroom environment designed to foster their movement, independence, and skill development. This includes learning important milestones like potty training. The materials and activities provided are carefully tailored to their size and skill level, ensuring a nurturing and engaging learning experience.

The ‘Nido’ (Italian for ‘nest’) creates a safe and nurturing environment that mimics the care and love of home. It features soft floor mats instead of cribs and children are allowed to move freely, thus fostering their motor skills from a very early age. The toys and materials in a Nido are carefully chosen to stimulate the infants’ senses and coordination.

The ‘Toddler Community’, on the other hand, is designed to support the child’s rapidly developing independence. The environment is arranged to promote exploration, and activities are introduced to help children master daily life skills such as dressing, eating, and toileting independently. The materials in this setting are more advanced, encouraging cognitive development, language skills, and more intricate motor coordination.

In both settings, respect for each child’s individual pace of development is paramount, and activities are carefully tailored to meet the child’s developmental needs and interests at every stage.

What to expect in a Montessori Preschool and Kindergarten

Montessori classrooms for children from 2+1⁄2 or 3 to 6 years old are often called Children’s Houses, after Montessori’s first school, the Casa dei Bambini in Rome in 1906. Activities in Children’s Houses are typically hands-on, tactile materials to teach concepts. These materials help build a concrete understanding of basic concepts upon which much is built in the later years.

Activities include practical life exercises, sensory exploration, and introduction to mathematics and language. 

• Practical life exercises can involve tasks like pouring water, buttoning clothes, or tying shoes, which help develop fine motor skills. 
• Sensory activities engage the child’s senses and might include sorting objects by size, color, or texture. 
• Mathematics and language activities introduce foundational concepts using tactile materials like counting beads or letter shapes designed for tracing. 

Each activity in a Montessori classroom is structured to foster an inherent love for learning, independence, and self-confidence in each child.

Why parents should expose high ability and gifted children to Montessori Education 

The concept of the “Absorbent Mind” states that children from birth to age six have an innate ability to absorb knowledge from their environment without conscious effort. 

BOOM – this is why parents who are worried about not having a G&T program seat and don’t have access to a Montessori school should supplement school at home and preferably, with a Montessori informed approach. That’s what our family has been doing since our son was around 1 years old and attending a traditional daycare. 

Per Maria Montessori, this absorbent mind stage is where children are like sponges, effortlessly soaking up experiences and information from their surroundings. This period of mental absorbency is broken up into two stages – the unconscious and conscious. 

1. The unconscious stage (from birth to around three years old) is when a child unconsciously acquires his/her basic abilities. 
2. The conscious stage (from around three to six years old) is when the child becomes more purposeful and aware of his/her learning. T

Sensitive Periods for Learning

Montessori’s concept of “Sensitive Periods for Learning” refers to specific time frames during a child’s development when they show a heightened sensitivity to certain environmental stimuli, making it an ideal time for specific types of learning. 

Each sensitive period paves the way for the development of certain skills or abilities. Examples include the period for sensory refinement (birth to 4 years old), the period for language development (birth to 6 years old), and the period for motor skills (birth to 4 years old). 

Montessori’s approach emphasizes recognizing and leveraging these sensitive periods to optimize a child’s educational outcomes. The sensitivity to learning during these periods is so pronounced that missing these periods can make learning more challenging in later years.

Montessori teachers undergo specialized training to identify and foster these sensitive periods, maximizing the opportunity to facilitate children’s learning when they are most receptive to it.

As children become more comfortable with counting for example, their teacher can introduce basic concepts of addition and subtraction using blocks. This approach avoids jumping straight to traditional methods like worksheets or memorization. Similarly, Montessori students utilize the “movable alphabet” to learn letters and eventually develop reading skills.

The Third Teacher At No Extra Cost: The Montessori Prepared Environment

In a Montessori school, the classroom environment is meticulously crafted to foster an immersive learning experience. What sets a Montessori classroom apart is its deliberate design, purposefully curated to ignite children’s curiosity and encourage exploration of their educational surroundings.

Teachers themselves are a vital part of any Montessori classroom, but their role is different from teachers who operate in a traditional classroom setting. Instead of simply presenting facts in front of the class, a Montessori teacher carefully designs activities that effectively introduce and reinforce important concepts. Children are rewarded with a feeling of pride when they master a new concept.

Avoiding Faux-tessori programs: what to look for in Montessori education programs

Just like you’ll find in traditional schools, accreditation is an important consideration when you’re looking at a Montessori school for your child.

Accreditation signifies a school’s accountability and recognition for its faithful adherence to Montessori principles. While many schools incorporate fragments of the Montessori curriculum, accredited schools ensure the comprehensive implementation of the curriculum without deviation.

In short, accreditation is there to give you peace of mind that what you’re paying for is an authentic Montessori education. 

How to Tell If a Montessori School Is Authentic

Here are the key questions to observe on tours of Montessori schools:

• Are children actively engaging with learning? An authentic Montessori classroom will center around active, hands-on learning – no lectures! It should also be a mixed age classroom following three-year groupings (3-6, 6-9, 9-12, etc) with 3 hours of work time. 
• Is the classroom set up for self directed learning? Montessori classrooms are set up as vibrant, thoughtfully arranged spaces accommodating the needs and curiosity of the children. They feature low shelves with accessible, hands-on materials and furniture scaled to the child’s size, fostering independence, freedom within limits, and a sense of order.
• Does the classroom incorporate a full array of Montessori materials? An authentic Montessori school will use the specialized learning tools that Maria Montessori herself designed and used. These materials promote conceptual understanding and are integral to the Montessori method. Iconic materials include golden beads, the pink tower, sandpaper letters, the bead cabinet, and number rods to name a few. 
• What is the teacher’s role in the classroom? In an authentic Montessori school, teachers play the role of a guide, observing and facilitating the learning process, rather than dominating it. They are trained to present lessons and then step back, allowing children to learn for themselves.

Remember, these are guidelines and not every accredited Montessori school will look exactly the same. However, the more of these elements you see, the more likely it is that the school adheres closely to Montessori philosophy and practices.

Montessori Method of Teaching

Montessori education aims to foster children’s learning through movement and provide a solid foundation in concrete concepts before delving into abstract ones. Once children have honed their fine motor and sensorial skills, they seamlessly transition into traditional academic subjects.

What are the Five Areas of Study in Montessori Education?

1. Practical Life – This area focuses on activities that mimic a child’s everyday life, helping them develop motor skills and independence. 
2. Sensorial – This area engages the child’s senses, stimulating their observation and attention to the environment around them. Activities include color sorting, texture matching, and shape identification.
3. Language – The Language area introduces children to phonetics, preparing them for reading and writing. It includes tools like sandpaper letters and movable alphabets to aid learning.
4. Mathematics – Here, children explore and understand mathematical concepts through hands-on materials like number rods and golden beads. This aids in making abstract concepts more tangible.
5. Cultural – This area covers subjects like geography, biology, history, art, and music, fostering an appreciation for the world and its diverse cultures.

How to Build A Montessori School At Home

The great news about the Montessori methodology is that you don’t have to enroll in a Montessori school – there are ways to incorporate the instruction at home even if you don’t have a Montessori certification, a lot of space, or a big budget. 

• Here’s how we set up a Montessori education space in our 750 square foot apartment
• This is how Elfa Shelving changed the way we were able to work with Montessori bead cabinet material
• This is a starter guide for introducing Montessori to toddlers in your life

In conclusion, Montessori education offers a unique approach to learning that prioritizes children’s independence, curiosity, and innate love for discovery. By incorporating its principles into your home, you can create an environment that encourages holistic growth, fosters a keen sense of observation, and nurtures a lifelong love for learning without enrolling in a Montessori school. Whether you have ample space or a modest size home, there are myriad ways to adapt Montessori teaching to your child’s needs, ensuring they acquire valuable skills and knowledge in a manner that is engaging and enjoyable.