Why Do Families Choose Montessori Education?

A common refrain in Montessori is, "follow the child." Teachers train in the specific developmental stages of the children they work with, and observe each child's unique strengths and challenges. By honoring where children are in their growth, we create educational environments perfectly suited to their needs. Learning is not always linear; each individual child will meet their own challenges and may need different supports in their time at Arbor. No two people should be expected to grow at the same rate. Arbor teachers meet children where they are and provide the support they need to grow.

As you enter a Montessori classroom, you will immediately see the difference in our learning environments. Montessori education values natural materials and natural lighting. Living things (both plants and animals) are present and low shelves allow children easy access to work materials. There are areas for children to work in a group or alone, and on the floor or in a chair. The Montessori materials are high quality, inspiring the children who use them to make their work beautiful.

In addition to the plants and animals children help care for in the classrooms, children connect to the natural world through a variety of resources available for study. Dissected owl pellets, ancient fossils, and sparkling geodes are among the interesting specimens available. Natural studies, like botany and zoology, begin in the Primary classrooms. Children connect to nature in outdoor patio and garden spaces, on beautifully forested playgrounds, and through the eyes of naturalists who steward our Outdoor Program.

Maria Montessori saw her educational method as a model for peace in society. She believed that by giving children the honor and respect they deserved, the benefits would trickle through to families, the community, and society in general. She believed in equality of all people, and saw that education has the potential to be a great leveler.

Our students are global citizens. We want them to understand the interconnectedness of all things so that they may be fully integrated members of their greater community as they grow and mature. At a young age, children learn about traditions from a wide range of cultures. We take the time to teach the skills of conflict resolution, cooperation, leadership, and self-control. Students work through social dynamics as they arise in real-time. We believe the peace, kindness, and mutual respect that develops in a Montessori environment are the foundations of a happy and fulfilling life.

Montessori academics are often hailed as some of the highest standards in education. It is not uncommon to see Primary students reading, Lower Elementary students completing long division problems, and Adolescents running their own businesses. This work is completed joyfully, in part because children are able to discover information for themselves rather than passively taking in facts given by an adult.

Another reason Montessori students appear to work at an advanced academic level is because of what we call sensitive periods. Through years of observation, Dr. Maria Montessori noticed young children are particularly interested and ready to develop certain skills during very specific time periods. There is natural variation between individual children, but Dr. Montessori discovered general patterns that helped us develop our curriculum.

The three period lesson, a Montessori hallmark, is specifically designed to measure understanding and mastery during teaching. Teachers observe students and target areas where they need more challenge or support. This allows teaching and learning to be adjusted in the moment; each child gets exactly what they need at just the right time.

When you choose Arbor, you join one of the premiere Montessori schools in the southeast, and one with deep roots in the Montessori and local communities. Families that choose Arbor Montessori School know they want an educational path that’s fundamentally different from a more traditional school model. The Montessori method and core principles are unique; their results are validated by research and modeled each and everyday by our community. What does that mean for you and your child? 

First, it means that all members of our community know and live our mission: To develop the full, unique potential of each and every child. This drives everything we do.  All business, policies, design, and decisions must serve this mission. Second, it means that our parents and teachers benefit from the same Montessori principles of respect and collaboration that guide and govern the Arbor classroom.

Third, it means that we support our families in creating events, classes, and groups to build community and relationships.