Montessori was amazed by the abilities of young children, especially their capacity for absorbing information through their senses. She called these times “Sensitive Periods” and created materials to support them. The early years are crucial but often neglected. Starting a Montessori program at 2.5-3 years old with trained teachers can have lifelong benefits. The toddler program starts at 1year, and the preschool program starts at 3 years old, both lasting 3 years. The greatest impact is achieved by completing all 3 years, ending with Kindergarten or age 6.

The Montessori approach, with its multi-age classrooms and personalized learning, allows each child to learn at their own pace. This means that students who are advanced in certain areas can continue to grow and challenge themselves, while those who need extra support and guidance can do so without feeling pressure to keep up with their peers.

In Montessori, every child is considered gifted in their own way, and the environment is designed to nurture and support each child’s unique strengths and interests. This approach is particularly beneficial for students with special needs, such as ADHD, learning differences, and autism spectrum disorders, who can progress at their own pace without feeling overwhelmed.

The Montessori educational approach follows a three-year cycle, where children of different ages are grouped together. For younger children between the ages of 1 to 2.5 years old, they are in the toddler environment. Older children between the ages of 2.5 to 6 years old are a part of the primary environment.

This structure allows for teachers and students to establish a close working relationship. Teachers have the opportunity to observe each student’s personal and academic progress, and provide guidance and support to help them achieve their full potential. Students are free to progress at their own pace, allowing them to reach their individual goals.

The mixed-age environment in Montessori classrooms also provides opportunities for students to learn from each other and share their knowledge and experiences in both learning and teaching roles. This creates a dynamic and participatory learning experience that caters to the interests, skills, and life experiences of each individual student.

The Montessori teacher is an important guide for each child in the classroom. By observing each student, the teacher is able to understand their learning style, strengths, and weaknesses. Based on this information, the teacher can then provide the appropriate materials and activities to help each child build upon their current skills and knowledge. This way, the child is able to work at their own pace, but not alone. The teacher is there to offer gentle guidance, ensuring that the child is not moving on to the next challenge too quickly, and that each child is being challenged in a way that is appropriate for their abilities. This approach helps each child develop the skills and knowledge they need, while also allowing them to pursue their own unique interests.

Montessori schools offer a comprehensive academic program that covers the same basic skills as traditional schools. The curriculum is designed to be an integrated approach that combines various subjects, such as math, science, history, geography, and language.

For instance, while studying a map of India, students might learn about the art, history, and inventions of different Indian states. They can identify their own state and the famous monuments located there. This approach to learning highlights the interconnectedness of all things and encourages students to fully explore and become absorbed in a topic, tapping into their innate curiosity.

Practical Life activities aim to develop children’s skills of order, concentration, independence, and coordination through purposeful tasks such as washing tables, arranging flowers, polishing objects, and buckling shoes.

Grace and Courtesy activities are designed to help children practice social skills and navigate complex situations with ease.

Sensorial activities focus on isolating qualities such as color, texture, weight, and shape, encouraging children to explore the world through their senses. They learn to sort, match, and grade, making meaningful connections to the environment.

Language activities introduce phonetics and writing, helping children to become independent readers.

Math manipulatives teach children about the decimal system and the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Through working with concrete materials, concepts become more meaningful and make a deeper impression on the brain.

In the broad Cultural area, children are exposed to maps of the continents, the animal and plant kingdoms, and classifications. Art and music are integrated into daily routines to encourage self-expression and creativity. Children learn songs, play rhythmic instruments, and engage in art projects with varied materials.

Montessori teachers receive extensive training from MACTE/AMI certified institutions in the Montessori method. This training covers all academic subjects, including science, math, language, geography, history, practical life, and sensorial subjects, as well as child development and special education. In addition to their coursework, Montessori teachers must also complete a one-year internship in a Montessori classroom. This hands-on experience allows them to learn and master the Montessori lessons and materials, while being supervised by experienced Montessori teachers.