How We Teach

Montessori classrooms for pre-school ages 2.5-6 are usually called Casa (house). There are 5 areas: Practical Life, Sensorial area, Language, Mathematics and Geography/Culture.  The Montessori teacher is not called a teacher, but a Directress or Guide; she directs/guides the students to a productive work.   Students in Casa class work, rather than study or play. Dr.Montessori observed that children prefer to work with real life materials instead of toys. She also observed that children worked for the love of work rather than for a reward. All of her observations are described in many of her books.   

Each student is closely observed by the Directress, each student receives individual lessons, based on their age, ability and interest. Therefore close observation of the students is necessary in order to prepare the most suitable lessons. Students typically receive new lessons from each area every week, depending on their age and ability. Anytime a student is presented a lesson he/she is then allowed and welcome to use that material again and repeat and practice on their own as much as they like.   

The Montessori method is not a method that prefers academics, this method suits and meets the need of a child. Most materials are autodidactic and the child mostly learns by prolonged repetitions and trial and error. The directress does not correct the child, but may help the child to arrive to certain awareness. 

Each child learns at his own pace and develops according to his readiness providing all is well in his environment. As the child is gaining new skill it is as if he/she is awakening to new deeper state of awareness, what was not in their realm of consciousness is suddenly there. There are so many discoveries and lessons to be had and it prepares them for future inquisitiveness, very heathy curiosity and critical "based-in-real-life" thinking.