Montessori Curriculum and Programs
Putting the Montessori Philosophy into Practice in the Classroom
At Montessori Unlimited, we believe education should be about more than memorization, repetition and standardized tests. We offer a completely different approach, featuring a unique, open environment that emphasizes your child’s natural interests and allows your child to set his or her own developmental pace. That’s the Montessori philosophy. That’s the philosophy we follow at Montessori Unlimited.
The Montessori education journey all began with Dr. Maria Montessori. Through scientific observations, she determined that children learn best when learning at their own pace and given the choice of his or her own activities. This breakthrough sparked a revolution that led to the Montessori method being taught all over the world.
At Montessori Unlimited, the practical application of this approach of sensory-based and self-directed learning for children is the most important thread that runs through our Toddler, Primary, Elementary and Enrichment programs.
Each program builds on the one before it, providing challenges appropriate to both age and skill levels. Language, mathematics, spatial learning, self-discovery, music and art — they’re all incorporated into the Montessori approach.
Your Montessori Unlimited teacher will work with your child to individually encourage him or her to explore the areas that excite and engage him or her. As children master an exercise, we guide them to the next appropriate challenge.
We believe each Montessori classroom is a community, with respect for others at the core. And the community formed in our programs goes beyond the classrooms to encompass the entire school. Combined with our Whole Child Education, we are creating lifelong learners and good citizens. To find a Montessori Unlimited near you, click here.
Montessori Education vs. Traditional Education
How does a Montessori curriculum differ from traditional schools, or even a traditional day care setting? Here are some of the things you can expect from a Montessori program vs. the traditional school method.
| Montessori Approach | Traditional Method |
|---|---|
| Emphasis on cognitive and social development | Emphasis on social development |
| Teacher has unobtrusive role in classroom | Teacher is center of classroom as “controller” |
| Environment and method encourage self-discipline | Teacher enforces discipline |
| Mainly individual instruction | Group and individual instruction |
| Mixed age grouping | Same age grouping |
| Grouping encourages children to teach and help each other | Most teaching done by teacher |
| Child chooses own work | Activities structured for child |
| Child works as long as he wishes on chosen project | Child generally allotted specific time for work |
| Child discovers own concepts from self-teaching materials | Child is guided to concepts by teacher |
| Child sets own learning pace | Instruction pace usually set by group |
| Child spots own errors from feedback on material | If work is corrected, errors usually pointed out by teacher |
| Child reinforces learning by repetition and feelings of success | Learning is reinforced externally by repetition and rewards |
| Organized program for learning care of self and environment (polishing shoes, cleaning the sink, etc.) | Less emphasis on self-care instruction |
| Child can work where he chooses (yet not disturb work of others); group work is also encouraged | Child usually assigned own chair; encouraged to participate, sit still and listen during group sessions |