Montessori environments are specially prepared for your child to develop and grow to become successful, independent thinkers. In both the Pre-primary and Primary levels, care and attention is devoted to each area of the classroom. The class flows from one area to the next with table and floor spaces interspersed. The rooms are intended to be peaceful and beautiful. That is, there may be one piece of artwork on the wall instead of a wall covered with many things. The furniture is child size and made for the child’s comfort. The shelves are set up for the children to take materials as needed.

Montessori classrooms have a large group gathering area. In the 3-6 age environment the area has an enclosed line. The line activities provide an opportunity for many activities including grace and courtesy lessons and silence activities. The Montessori classroom is set up in different subject areas: practical life, sensorial, mathematics, language, and cultural.  As you visit the classroom, you can appreciate the care your child’s teacher has taken to create the prepared environment.

Karen Dugmore
Lakewood Montessori, Boise, Idaho

•    If you leave a small pitcher of juice in the fridge (of a full flip-n-sip for younger ones), I can pour myself drinks.

•    If you put low hooks on the wall and create a place for my boots, I can get ready for going outside.

•    If you take away all of my toys but my favorite few, I can look after them and keep them neat (and then swap other ones in from time to time to keep it interesting)

•    If you put a stool in the bathroom, I can get on and off the toilet and brush my teeth and hair in the mirror.

•    If you give me chores to do, such as setting the table or filling and starting the dishwasher or folding clothes, I can help with housekeeping.

•    If you give me shoes, shirt, pants, and jackets that fasten easily, I can dress myself.

•    If you give me a dustpan, brush, and sponge, I can clean up my messes and other people’s too.

•    If you give me simple math problems while cooking, shopping, traveling, and any other time, I can practice my adding and subtracting.

•    If you sound out words and writing with me, I can practice my own reading and speaking.

•    If you use grown-up words for objects such as bathroom instead of potty or appaloosa instead of horsie), I can learn them just easily as the baby ones.

Help me do it myself, and I will be a happier, more competent, and more dignified young person. (And it will make your job easier too!)

Julie Webster in the Co-Director of the Misty Mountain Montessori School in Mount Airy, MD. This piece was published in the Winter 2004/2005 issue of Tomorrow’s Child Magazine.

Lakewood Montessori, Boise, Idaho

Maria Montessori observed that there are certain times in a child’s life when it is very easy to learn a skill. Her observations are now substantiated by modern brain research, and are commonly referred to as critical periods.

As an example, when a child is in the sensitive period for language he can learn to speak and understand easily, with no formal instruction. Don’t we all wish we had learned a second language as a young child?

Montessori teachers are trained to carefully observe for signs of sensitive periods, and then answer by presenting work that will meet the needs of the sensitive period.

0-3 Years           The Absorbent Mind Period - Sensory Experience

0-6 Years           Language Development

1.5-3 Years        Coordination and Muscle Development - Interest in Small Objects

2-4 Years           Refinement of Movement  Concerns with Truth & Reality -
                        Aware of Order of Sequence

2.5-6  Years       Sensory Refinement

3-6 Years           Susceptibility to  Adult Influence

3.5-6  Years       Writing

4-4.5 Years        Tactile Sense

4.5-5.5 Years     Reading

Karen Dugmore and Mary Clements
Lakewood Montessori, Boise, Idaho

The sandpaper letters assist children in learning sounds that letters make. Children are first introduced to rough and smooth tablets in the sensorial area. Working with the rough and smooth tablets (there are several lessons) prepares the child for feeling the difference in texture.

At this time the child's hand is being prepared and trained to write. Next, the child is introduced to metal insets. "Metal insets teach the child how to organize the movement of writing, which brings him to the management of the pen" (Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook, p 146).

In practicing the small motor coordination the child gains confidence with small motor skills. As the child's interest in language progresses, the child begins work on sandpaper letters. A child is shown a letter, the letter is traced for the child, and the letter name is spoken. The child then repeats what has been shown.

The child is introduced to two different letter sounds each lesson. The teacher works with the child to learn the sounds. When a child returns for another lesson, they will review the sounds already taught. The child can be successful because they have preparation through prior experiences (sandpaper tablets, metal insets).

Dr. Montessori on sandpaper letters: “This process forms the first preparation, not only for writing, but also for reading, because it is evident that when the child touches the letters he performs movement corresponding to the writing of them, and, at the same time, when he recognizes them by sight he is reading the alphabet.” (Dr. Montessori's Own Handbook, p 152)

Karen Dugmore
Lakewood Montessori, Boise, Idaho

Montessori environments are specially prepared for your child to develop and grow to become successful independent thinkers.  

At each level, care and attention is devoted to each area of the classroom.  The class flows form one area to the next with table and floor spaces interspersed.  The rooms are intended to be peaceful and beautiful.  That is, there may be one beautiful piece of artwork on the wall instead of a wall covered with many things.  

The furniture is child size and made for the child’s comfort.  Furniture is light enough that the child can move it himself.  The shelves are set up for the children to take materials as needed.  The shelves are sequenced from the easiest (most concrete) work to the hardest (most abstract) from left to right.  The work is also organized from the most simple to the most complex.  At the conclusion of a lesson, the work is put back in the correct spot on the shelf and the child is invited to perform the task.  

The best Montessori classrooms are set up in different subject areas: practical life, sensorial, mathematics, language, and cultural.

Now when you visit the classroom you will have a better understanding of the areas of the classroom.

Lakewood Montessori, Boise, Idaho