The materials used in a Montessori private kindergarten are carefully designed to be self-correcting, enjoyable, and to encourage the mastery of multiple early developmental skillsets. This includes things like fine motor skills, academic subjects, and intellectual skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving.
Learning Through Doing What Maria Montessori observed early in the 20th century was that Montessori kindergarten children learn best when they are able to get immersed in their education. Since then, numerous studies have repeated her findings, showing that children perform better and absorb information more readily when they are engaged with it using hands-on learning materials. This does not mean that children are simply playing instead of being taught, it means that children are being taught using materials that are carefully chosen to keep children engaged as they learn. Consistency and Repetition No one becomes an expert the first time they attempt a new task. This is just as true for adults as it is for children. With authentic Montessori materials, children are able to return to the same activity over and over, and the activities are designed to be self-self-correcting so that kids will immediately know whether they have done the job correctly. Natural Learning Strategies Another early observation made by Montessori was that children learn by playing in a natural setting. Authentic Montessori activities are designed to entertain and engage children at that level, and even though they outwardly appear to be playing they are actually fully engaged in absorbing new information. Prepared Environments The Montessori prepared environment is designed to resonate with a child's desire for consistency and order. In a Montessori classroom, children are going about many different activities-- even moving from one to another freely-- yet the area remains free of clutter. This is because the Montessori Method includes teaching children the process of putting things away in their proper place when they are no longer being used. Practical Skills Not all Montessori materials were designed expressly for the classroom. The Montessori Method also dictates that successful childhood development includes learning practical skills such as measuring, pouring, and cutting. These are skills that children will use repeatedly throughout their lives but are sadly omitted from nearly all traditional public school systems. Montessori classrooms are intended to provide a full spectrum of developmental tools for young children. What appears to be a toy is actually a well-crafted and carefully chosen activity that provides one or more important lessons. The benefits of such activities are numerous and the results are time-tested.
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