What is Montessori?

Montessori education promotes self-motivated growth in all aspects of a child’s development. Dr. Maria Montessori developed this method to nurture natural curiosity and respect. In Montessori classrooms in Cinco Ranch, children engage in independent and group work with specially designed materials, emphasizing multi-sensory learning and inquiry

Key Features:

Fosters Self-Motivated Growth: Developed by Dr. Maria Montessori to nurture curiosity and respect.
Unique Classroom Environment:
- Children work independently and in groups.
- Use of specially designed materials.
- Emphasis on multi-sensory learning and inquiry.
Personalized Learning:
- Students follow their curiosity at their own pace.
- Achieve personalized learning goals.
Mixed-Age Classrooms:
- Promote independence, citizenship, and accountability.
Teacher's Role:
- Prepare the environment to foster order, concentration, and independence..
Core Values:
- Develop confident, enthusiastic, self-directed learners.
- Encourage critical thinking and collaboration.
- Focus on structured environments for optimal learning.

THE PREPARED ENVIRONMENT

The prepared environment, or classroom, includes all the Montessori materials and exercises. This is a setting where each child's individual learning needs are met. A place where they can freely explore and reveal their own personality and growth patterns. Montessori lessons provide active and hands-on experiences. Students are encouraged to discover information for themselves. This method of teaching varies greatly from traditional schools where children listen passively, memorize, and take tests.

MULTI-AGE CLASSROOMS

A fundamental approach to the Montessori philosophy is the multi-age classroom. All classrooms in Cinco Ranch include children of three age levels. Multi-age grouping helps children acquire a sense of community and supports social development. Children of different ages help one another. Younger children take direction and learn from the older children. As older children mentor the younger students, they develop increased independence and leadership skills.

SELF PACED CURRICULUM

The individual child’s work pace is honored in the Montessori classroom in Cinco Ranch, and the curricula expand in response to the student's needs. In traditional classroom settings, all children are expected to work at the same pace and the curricula is predetermined.

BENEFITS OF A MONTESSORI EDUCATION

Personalized Learning

Experiential Curriculum

Holistic Development

Advanced Learning Opportunities

Critical Thinking Skills

Montessori Compared

MONTESSORI EDUCATION	TRADITIONAL EDUCATION
Based on helping the natural development of the human being	Based on the transfer of a national curriculum
Children learn at their own pace and follow their own individual interest	Children learn from a set curriculum according to a time frame that is the same for everyone
Children teach themselves using materials specially prepared for the purpose	Children are taught by the teacher
Understanding comes through the child’s own experiences via the materials and the promotion of children’s ability to find things out for themselves	Child is usually assigned own chair and encouraged to sit still and listed during group sessions
Child can work where he/she is comfortable, move around and talk at will while not disturbing others	Learning is based on subjects and is limited to what is given
The teacher works in collaboration with the children	The class is teacher led
The child’s individual development brings it’s won reward and therefore motivation	Motivation is achieved by a system of reward and punishment
Environment and method encourage internal self-discipline	Teacher acts as primary enforcer of external discipline
Child works as long as he/she wishes on chosen projects	Child generally given specific time limit for work
Mixed age groups	Same age groups
Shared emphasis on intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual development	Main emphasis on intellectual development

MONTESSORI EDUCATION

Based on helping the natural development of the human being
Children learn at their own pace and follow their own individual interest
Children teach themselves using materials specially prepared for the purpose
Understanding comes through the child’s own experiences via the materials and the promotion of children’s ability to find things out for themselves
Child can work where he/she is comfortable, move around and talk at will while not disturbing others
The teacher works in collaboration with the children
The child’s individual development brings it’s won reward and therefore motivation
Environment and method encourage internal self-discipline
Child works as long as he/she wishes on chosen projects
Mixed age groups
Shared emphasis on intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual development

TRADITIONAL EDUCATION

Based on the transfer of a national curriculum
Children learn from a set curriculum according to a time frame that is the same for everyone
Children are taught by the teacher
Child is usually assigned own chair and encouraged to sit still and listed during group sessions
Learning is based on subjects and is limited to what is given
The class is teacher led
Motivation is achieved by a system of reward and punishment
Teacher acts as primary enforcer of external discipline
Child generally given specific time limit for work
Same age groups
Main emphasis on intellectual development

Welcome to Montessori Haven!