About Montessori
A hands-on educational approach that respects each child, builds independence, and prepares students for life.
The Method
Over 100 years ago, Dr. Maria Montessori observed that children learn best by doing. Her research produced a teaching method that matches instruction to the intellectual, emotional, and social development of children. Modern research has continued to validate what Montessori demonstrated in practice.
A Montessori classroom is a joyful place for a child. Each child develops and learns at their own pace. Children are respected, and in turn they learn to respect themselves, their peers, and their environment.
Academics are introduced through concrete, hands-on materials. As children progress, the materials lead them into abstract thinking. Though academic achievement is usually very high among Montessori children, the true value lies in the development of self-discipline, self-mastery, and a love of learning.
Music, art, drama, and cultural studies are carefully interwoven into daily activities and projects. They are essential to the ongoing development of the whole child.
Teachers prepare an environment appropriate for each age group. Materials are attractive and well-kept. Art prints, animals, and plants surround the child in a place where learning becomes a joy.
Who Was Maria Montessori?
Maria Montessori was born in 1870 in Italy. She became one of the first women to graduate from medical school in Italy in 1896. Early in her career, she spent years working with institutionalized children, studying the work of Itard and Seguin while experimenting with and adapting learning materials. Over time, her students began passing tests designed for mainstream children. This made Montessori question conventional teaching methods.
From that question, and from her subsequent work with children in Rome, the Montessori approach to education was born. Today there are over 20,000 Montessori schools around the world, and ongoing brain research continues to validate her observations about how children learn best.
What NFM@C Provides
At North Fork Montessori @ Crawford, we remain true to this philosophy and provide:
- Experienced and dedicated certified directors (teachers)
- Curriculum that goes beyond state-required benchmarks
- A creatively structured environment promoting excellence in academics, art, and life skills
- A fundamental belief in the goodness and giftedness of each child
Students leave North Fork Montessori @ Crawford with a strong academic background and a quickened curiosity.
Suggested Reading
- Montessori Today by Paula Polk Lillard
- Montessori, A Modern Approach by Paula Polk Lillard
- The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori
- The Montessori Approach by Maria Montessori
Montessori Quotes
“The education of even a small child, therefore, does not aim at preparing him for school, but for life.” — Maria Montessori
“The secret of good teaching is to regard the child's intelligence as a fertile field in which seeds may be sown, to grow under the heat of flaming imagination.” — Maria Montessori
“Do not tell them how to do it. Show them how to do it and do not say a word. If you tell them, they will watch your lips move. If you show them, they will want to do it themselves.” — Maria Montessori
Learn More
- American Montessori Society
- Association Montessori Internationale
- North American Montessori Teachers' Association
- International Montessori Index