"Clearly, the young child has a unique and extremely powerful capacity for learning such skills as language, a capacity which is mysteriously lost, or perhaps buried, somewhere on the way to adulthood." (Gettman 1987)
       Developed by Maria Montessori, an Italian 20th century educator, this unique style of educating children uses a holistic approach in helping children reach various developmental stages at his/her own pace.  Children are taught to be autonomous, independent and are presented material on an individual basis as opposed to the "one lesson plan fits all" approach.  The Montessori child develops an inner feeling of success, independence, order, and confidence that is essential to academic success in future schooling.  At its most basic level, the Montessori premise is that the learning capacity of a young child is fundamentally different from that of an adult.  Dr. Montessori demonstrated this in the dogma of the "sensitive periods".  These periods are a time line in the development of a child, windows of opportunity in which natural optimal development is possible.  The "sensitive periods" are at the core of the Montessori philosophy.  With the help of the very observant teacher, the child's full potential can be reached.       
Montessori Philosophy
PARENT QUOTES
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