Our School Curriculum Our Community News & Events Admissions

What is Montessori?

Maria Montessori was a physician and educator who wrote and taught in the early twentieth century. Her beliefs about children and their development were revolutionary during her lifetime but have gained increasingly wide acceptance over the years. 

Today, they form the cornerstone of our philosophy at Eliot. Like Dr. Montessori, we believe that:

	All children possess an inherent passion to learn. Nurturing that inclination benefits their intellect and well-being.
	Children learn best within a consistent, dependable and caring environment.
	Children should work at their own pace. Respecting individual learning styles and developmental stages will increase children’s sense of fulfillment, confidence and ability to learn.
	Specially designed Montessori materials help children explore, experience and comprehend new ideas.

At Eliot, we not only apply the Montessori philosophy to traditional subjects like reading and mathematics, but to modern ones, such as computer science. Above all, we share the essential Montessori belief that learning can
and should be immensely satisfying—and great fun.

What is a Montessori Education?

"Our aim is not only to make the child understand, and still less to force him to memorize, but so to touch his imagination as to enthuse him to his innermost core."

The Eliot Montessori School holds Dr. Montessori's traditional values to heart while also using contemporary educational techniques to best prepare our children for tomorrow, and we have experienced Montessori teachers who share our passion in fulfilling this mission. 

The Montessori curriculum is rigorously designed to ensure that academic growth is achieved. The materials in the classroom are carefully prepared to capture kids' interest and stimulate them, teaching concepts in a way that simply can't be done with textbooks alone. The concrete materials allow the child to explore their world through their senses, by touch and motion, and by observing and engaging with others. For example, upon walking into a Kindergarten room, you will see most of the materials at the same height as the children themselves, which makes for a more inviting experience. Some of the materials in the room may look like simple toys, but each is designed to teach an important idea. Also, many classrooms are often divided into separate areas, each with the intent of teaching a specific aspect of the curriculum.

A child's natural inquisitiveness is rewarded when he or she learns something new for the first time. This kind of self-discovery makes learning more meaningful for the child than any book and blackboard lesson. 

In the mixed-aged Montessori classes (1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades in Lower Elementary for example), the younger children are motivated by seeing what the older kids can do. It also fosters a remarkable mentoring relationship between older and younger children, from which genuine respect and kindness grows.

This wonderful environment persists as the children get older. What and how the children learn in Kindergarten becomes the foundation for Lower Elementary. This in turn becomes the basis for Upper Elementary, and so on. In this "Journey," the teaching techniques mature as the children do, but the underlying concepts remain consistent through the years, resulting in a student who is academically exceptional, one who treasures learning, and perhaps more importantly, one who has matured as more complete person.

Our students love coming to school, and when the time comes to finally leave us, they are better prepared to achieve whatever goals they have.

What is the Role of a Montessori Teacher?

"The teacher's task is no small or easy one! He has to prepare a huge amount of knowledge to satisfy the child's mental hunger, and he is not, like the ordinary teacher, limited by a syllabus."

With emphasis on the child's innate desire to learn,  Montessori teachers are trained to be exceptional observers of students' behavior. They create classrooms that stimulate the child's curiosity and guide each student individually through the journey that is learning. 

One of the most marvelous sights  seen in a Montessori classroom is a group of seemingly unattended children  working quietly together toward a common goal. The environment simply lends itself to this kind of teamwork, and of course the teacher is there, watching and supporting the kids.

Our teachers view themselves as lifelong learners. Experts in their fields, they model the kind of ongoing personal growth, development and self-direction we value in our students. In support of these qualities, we offer continuing opportunities for their professional development.