Young children possess absorbent minds and unmatched sensitivities, enabling them to learn more easily and efficiently than at any other time of life. A wide array of materials invite the children to exercise their senses, develop large and small motor skills, and practice daily living activities. These activities provide the building blocks in which the children begin to explore math and written language, geography and science, music and the creative arts.
The children in a Montessori classroom are free to choose work which stimulates and satisfies their own curiosity. Most of the materials are concrete, multi-sensory, and self-correcting, so that minimum direction is needed. Teachers in the classrooms act as guides and observers, gently directing the children towards individual discoveries and connections. A Montessori classroom encourages independence, responsible freedom, self-discipline, and joyful learning. Social skills and a vibrant sense of community among the children develop naturally as they work and play together, with ground rules that ensure respect for self and others.