Montessori Schools

Montessori education is characterized by an emphasis on independence, freedom within limits, and respect for a child’s natural psychological development, as well as technological advancements in society. Although a range of practices exists under the name "Montessori", the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) and the American Montessori Society (AMS) cite these elements as essential

Mixed age classrooms, with classrooms for children aged 2½ or 3 to 6 years old by far the most common

Student choice of activity from within a prescribed range of options

Uninterrupted blocks of work time

A Constructivist or "discovery" model, where students learn concepts from working with materials, rather than by direct instruction

Specialized educational materials developed by Montessori and her collaborators

In addition, many Montessori schools design their programs with reference to Montessori’s model of human development from her published works, and use pedagogy, lessons, and materials introduced in teacher training derived from courses presented by Montessori during her lifetime.

I have many unanswered questions about these schools. A lot of what I am reading and hearing makes sense but there is a lot that still doesn’t. I plan on doing some research on my own  once this semester comes to an end.