The Whole Child Approach

The Montessori Method focuses on social skills, emotional growth, physical coordination, and cognitive preparation. The holistic, integrated curriculum provides a basis on which the children build knowledge of the world around them and their place in it.

The Tools

To put to use the philosophy that children learn better when all of their senses (touch, smell, hearing, sight, taste) are stimulated, Dr. Montessori created tools for the education of language and mathematical concepts.
  • Letter recognition and pre-reading skills are gained through the use of sandpaper letters
  • The initial sound boxes allow the student to recognize the connection between letters and their sounds using familiar objects
  • Two- and three-dimensional shapes give children concrete, touchable examples of geometric principles
  • The hundred board and beaded chains containing the squares and cubes of the numbers one through nine allow the student to comprehend the actual meaning of a square and a cube of a number and aid in the development of linear counting and number recognition skills
  • The abacus and the peg board give children the opportunity to master addition, multiplication, and square roots
  • Map puzzles of the world and individual continents introduce students to geography
  • The botany cabinet introduces students to the study of plants
  • “Everyday living” exercises, such as baking bread, strengthen the child’s ability to listen and focus
Goals of the
Montessori Method
With an eye toward the development of a competent, self-assured, independent, and caring adult, the Montessori method aims to:
  • Foster natural curiosity and a positive attitude toward school
  • Develop each child's self-confidence and habits of initiative, concentration, and persistence
  • Nurture inner security and a sense of order