Apple Ridge Montessori School

The Montessori method of education, which originated in the early 1900’s, has since emerged as an
approach to human development that is respected around the world. Dr. Maria Montessori—an Italian
educator and scientist — observed that children are born with an inner need to seek out experiences that
enable them to actively pursue their own development.

• Dr. Montessori recognized and described the “sensitive periods” occurring between the ages of 2 1/2
  and 6 years, when a child can most easily acquire skills such as spoken and written language, social
  behaviors, precise coordination, and sensory awareness. She also called attention to the “absorbent
  mind” possessed by young children, which enables them to soak up information and take in all their
  experiences like a sponge.

• Montessori classrooms are designed to respond to children’s sensitive periods, with adults guiding
  them in directions appropriate to their readiness and maturity. Because young children acquire
  knowledge by manipulating objects in a hand-on way, the classroom materials embody clear ideas. They
  encourage repetition, are sequential and multi-sensory, and eventually lead to abstract concepts.

• Intellectual goals include the development of perceptual, auditory, verbal, mathematical, and
  reasoning skills.

• In the social realm, we encourage children to find joy and respect in their friendships and to value
  grace and courtesy. We provide multicultural experiences to foster an interest in the larger world, and
  we embark on the idea of peace and social justice by creating an understanding of non-violent solutions
  to human problems.

• We stress the development of initiative, self-confidence, independence, and the ability to concentrate
  and complete a task. The lessons in our classroom are intended to further develop not only the fine and
  large motor skills and self-esteem, through healthy cycles of challenge and achievement.