PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

Developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, the Montessori Philosophy of Education is a child-centered educational approach based on scientific observations of children from birth to adulthood. Montessori education introduces children to the joy of learning during the formative years, and provides a framework that supports the development of the whole child – physical, social, emotional, and cognitive.

There is a great sense of community within the Montessori classroom, where children of differing ages work together in an atmosphere of cooperation rather than competitiveness. There is respect for the environment and for the individuals within it, which comes through experience of freedom within the community.
Dr. Maria Montessori

Children are naturally curious and eager for knowledge, and in the carefully prepared Montessori environment, children question, explore, investigate, and develop at their own pace as they acquire skills during the learning process. Through direct experiences with their environment using hands-on Montessori materials, students develop creativity and confidence, critical thinking skills, and apply their knowledge to real-world experiences. Our multi-aged classrooms support a three-year age span, and promote peer-to-peer mentorship opportunities as students learn to collaborate, resolve conflicts, and respect individual differences – key attributes that stay with them throughout their education and life.

Children actively engage in meaningful work as they explore the world around them. Concrete and abstract learning experiences, both inside and outside the classroom, enable children to balance individual mastery and small group collaboration, within a whole group community.

The Montessori educational experience at Whitby Montessori & Elementary School (WMS) and Lakeridge Montessori School (LMS) provides the means for a child’s development to be inspired and ignited in a dynamic learning environment. Independence, initiative, self-discipline, and a love of learning are key characteristics fostered at both WMS and LMS, and form the framework for success both within the classroom and beyond. At WMS and LMS … we recognize that childhood happens only once – and a Montessori education provides each child with an integrated, individualized, and academically challenging program that meets his/her changing needs from year to year.