"Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment."
A Montessori environment is characterised by:
- Independence – The child must be able to become physically independent of the adult so that they may be able to choose and decide things for themselves.
- Indirect preparation – Although activities are prepared with their own developmental aim in mind they also prepare for something that will come later in the child’s development.
- Order – Relates to the materials, physical order, social order, the consistency of the adults and their approach, the order of presentation.
- Choice – The child must have the opportunity to choose what they do from a range of activities that are suitable to his developmental needs.
- Freedom – To choose, to work for as long as they want to, to not work, to work without being interrupted by other children or by the constraints of a timetable etc. – as long as their activity does not interfere with other children’s right and freedom to do the same.
- Mixed Age Range – A community with at least a three year age range allows for children to learn from each other in a non-competitive atmosphere and directly prepares the child for living in society.
- Movement – The child’s free movement allows them to exercise their freedom to bring themselves into contact with the things and people in their environment that they need for their development.
- Control of Error – The environment and in particular the materials should be prepared in a way that allows the child to become aware of their mistakes and to correct them for themselves so that they understand that it is all right to be wrong and that we can learn from our mistakes.
- Materials – The materials that we choose for the environment must act as keys to the child’s development and we need to prepare the environment with this in mind. The keys we choose will be directed by the child’s essential developmental needs at each age range.
- Role of the Adult – The role of this adult is not like the teacher in a traditional environment, whose role is to teach the children. The role of the adult in a Montessori environment is to facilitate the child to teach themselves by following their own internal urges that will lead them to take what they need from the things and people around them.
- Montessori National Curriculum – An approved learning framework informs the development of the programs and practices to enhance each child’s learning and development. Educators are focused on delivering the approved Montessori curriculum with authenticity and integrity, whilst engaging in reflective practice in the design and delivery of an individualised educational program for each child.
Beechworth Montessori School aims to:
- Provide an authentic Montessori education to children enrolled in the 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12 year old programs.
- Deliver a Montessori educational program with integrity.
- Comply with the requirements of the Montessori Curriculum as accredited by the relevant agencies.