Understanding the Montessori Classroom

The Montessori Method recognizes the critical importance of the child’s environment for his or her development and education. When parents tour a Montessori school, they are likely to hear about the “prepared environment.” This term is broadly defined as the surroundings and objects that a child is introduced to, which facilitates that child’s exploration and learning independent of adult directives. The prepared environment is a key concept for the student’s gradual transition into greater independence.

Freedom

Freedom is one of the critical aspects of the prepared environment. Parents who have been exploring this model of private education may already be familiar with the concept of freedom of choice. That is, the child is free to choose his or her own learning activities within set parameters. In order to have freedom of choice; however, the student must have freedom of movement and exploration, along with freedom from interference. In a Montessori classroom, students are indeed free to move about the classroom, rather than being confined to one desk for the entire school day. Additionally, students who are hard at work on their activities are not interrupted by others, which facilitates greater concentration.

Order

Another important aspect of the prepared environment is the presence of orderliness and structure. The way in which the Montessori classroom is structured influences the way in which the student can make sense of the world around him or her.

Aesthetic Appeal

The aesthetics of a Montessori classroom ideally reflect the inner serenity of its learners. The aspect of beauty speaks to the aspect of orderliness, given that clutter significantly interferes with a classroom’s aesthetic appeal. The well-maintained Montessori classroom facilitates harmony.

The Montessori-certified teachers at Starwood Academy of Frisco create and maintain orderly and dynamic learning environments in which children can freely embrace their academic interests. During the day at our Montessori school, children regularly interact with nature as they work in our greenhouse or on their gardening projects. For additional information about giving your child a Montessori education in Frisco, call (214) 390-4854 to request a tour.