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The Montessori Method

The Montessori Method

More than 110 years ago, Dr. Maria Montessori started an educational method that continues to be validated by modern scientific research. Dr. Montessori, an Italian physician and scientist, believed that each child is unique and learns at his own pace. This innovative thinking shaped a new type of learning environment designed to spark the individual interests of each child, fueling curiosity and hands-on exploration for a life-long love of learning.

As Dr. Montessori noted, children use all five of their senses effortlessly to absorb knowledge from the environment, and have “sensitive periods” for learning that coincide with human development. HPMS honors Dr. Montessori’s methodology in which classrooms are mixed-age and mixed-ability communities. The older role models master concepts by teaching them to younger students, who tend to admire them as the leaders of the classroom community. All children have an innate love of learning.

Curriculum

The curriculum at HPMS is based on the Montessori method, created by Dr. Maria Montessori, the first female physician in Italy, who was nominated 3 times for the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in the field of education.

The Prepared Environment is carefully maintained by the teaching team according to what they have observed is needed by the students. It is designed to create meaningful learning experiences for each student as s/he moves throughout the day. In each Montessori environment, there are several curricular areas: Practical Life, Sensorial,
Mathematics, Language, Cultural Subjects (history/geography/science) and Art.

Each area is carefully arranged so every student will experience a logical sequence of lessons, leading from the most concrete to the increasingly abstract, to meet their individual needs.

Most lessons are presented to an individual student, or to a small group of students. After receiving a lesson, students are given time to explore and work with the materials on their own. Montessori materials are self-correcting and offer the ability to solve problems and be independent learners, thus thinkers. Large group lessons are presented to all students as a community-building tool.