Key Concepts

AMERICAN MONTESSORI SOCIETY

POSITION STATEMENT

KEY CONCEPTS AND PRACTICES

NOVEMBER 1993

The American Montessori Society desires to define Montessori education as it is practiced in AMS accredited schools, taught in AMS teacher education programs, and articulated in AMS sponsored publications, symposia and seminars.

The American Montessori Society is committed to promoting quality Montessori education of all children from birth to 18 years based on these key concepts:

The aim of Montessori education is to foster competent, responsible, adaptive citizens who are lifelong learners and problem solvers.
Learning occurs in an inquiring, cooperative, nurturing atmosphere. Students increase their own knowledge through self-and teacher-initiated experiences.
Learning takes place through the senses. Students learn through manipulating materials and interacting with others. These meaningful experiences are precursors to the abstract understanding of ideas.
The individual is considered as a whole. The physical, emotional, social, aesthetic, spiritual, and cognitive needs and interests are inseparable and equally important.
Respect for oneself, others, the environment, and life is necessary to develop a caring attitude toward all people and the planet.

The Montessori teacher is educated in these areas:

Human growth and development
Observational skills in order to match students' developmental needs with materials and activities. Observational skills allow the teacher to guide students in creating their individual plan of learning.
An open-ended array of suggested learning materials and activities which empowers teachers to design their own developmentally responsive, culturally relevant learning environment.
Teaching strategies that support and facilitate the unique and total growth of each individual.
Classroom leadership skills that foster a nurturing environment that is physically and psychologically supportive of learning.

A Montessori classroom must have these basis characteristics at all levels:

Teachers educated in the Montessori philosophy and methodology appropriate to the age level they are teaching, who have the ability and dedication to put the key concepts into practice.
A partnership established with the family. The family is considered an integral part of the individual's total development.
A multi-aged, multi-graded, heterogeneous group of students.
A diverse set of Montessori materials, activities, and experiences which are designed to foster physical, intellectual, creative, and social independence.
A schedule that allows large blocks of uninterrupted time to problem solve, to see the interdisciplinary connections of knowledge, and to create new ideas.
A classroom atmosphere that encourages social interaction for cooperative learning, peer teaching, and emotional development.