Auburn Montessori School
78 Rockingham Road
Auburn, NH 03032
603.627.1691
info@auburnmontessori.com
www.auburnmontessori.com
© 2009 Auburn Montessori School.  All Rights Reserved
Dr. Maria Montessori modestly states that she has "…studied the child,…taken what the child has given…and expressed it, and that is what is called the Montessori Method."  Simple but true. Rather than affix a preconceived point of view upon the child, Montessori undertook a series of scientific observations out of which drew her understanding of how children learn.

Creating a safe, well ordered and sequential environment in which the child eventually becomes autonomous is basic to the Montessori philosophy.  Materials are designed to allow the child to be self taught, therefore the directress is able to stand back and observe the child.  These observations are essential to her understanding of each individual, and enable her to better prepare the environment to suit every child's needs.
Montessori understood the child's ability to absorb all facets of his world, especially those to which he is particularly sensitive at a given time. Data is taken in, categorized, and stored for future use.  The child's sensitive periods for order, movement, math, language, social skills and others are taken into account when readying the classroom and materials.  Freedom of choice within this prepared environment allows the child to grow at her own pace.  Along with her freedom comes a growing sense of responsibility and a deep inner discipline.
"Education is not what the teacher gives; education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the human individual and is acquired not by listening to words but by experiences upon the environment."
Maria Montessori
Understanding self, and respecting others, as well as the environment, are key to aiding the child in becoming successful in any setting.  Montessori saw a deep need for all children to feel like competent and necessary members of their group, therefore encouraging independence and applauding success is part of the Montessori method.  This includes social experiences as well. Focus on understanding how to be a good friend, how to assert ones self, while understanding others, and how behavior can affect the "community" are daily lessons in the Montessori classroom.  By mixing ages and abilities we create a small society of children who look to one another for help and leadership, who learn to use their strengths to support one another, and where respect for all levels of ability is exhibited.