Most of the learning activities are individualized and the children engage in learning tasks that have particular appeal to them since they are geared to their needs and level of readiness. They work at their own pace, repeating the task as often as desired. In doing so, they experience a series of successful achievements and develop a positive attitude toward learning.
Many elementary and secondary school children have difficultly in school because they do not have confidence in themselves as individuals or as students. To prevent and overcome this difficultly, Montessori tasks are designed so that each new step is built on past successes. Such success develops self confidence, assures that the children can learn and contributes to sound emotional and academic development.
Based on this program of step-by-step learning, the children form habits of extended attention and increased concentration abilities.
To be a successful adult, we must be students all our lives. A deep, persistent and abiding curiosity fosters on-going creative learning. By providing children with opportunities to discover qualities, dimensions and relationships in a rich variety of learning situations, the natural desire to know is developed into a life long habit of creative learning.
By surrounding children with appealing materials and activities geared to their needs and current level of capability and encouraging involvement on their own, the child gradually develops the habit of initiative. Since ground rules call for completing a task once it has begun and for replacing materials after the task is accomplished, the habit of persistence is also fostered. Both initiative and persistence are key elements to success in learning, working and relationships.
Through a well ordered, enriched and organized environment, children's natural need for order and security is satisfied. Since every item in a Montessori classroom has a place and since ground rules requires that everything be in its place, they learn to maintain order. Such an environment has a calming effect on children and promotes a sense of security essential to sound emotional growth.
Montessori activities call for handling and manipulating a wide variety of specially designed materials. In addition to accommodating and directing children's energies, these tasks teach control and coordination of large and small muscles. Such control and coordination are important to a wide spectrum of activities including learning to write, play a musical instrument and/or athletic performance.
Sorting and matching activities teach children to note similarities and differences in size, shape, color, texture, odor, sound and the like, shaping this sensory acuity. This is the foundation on which to build the ability to differentiate and judge various qualities in their ever expanding world.
Through working and interacting with others, children learn to cooperate with and refrain from infringing on the rights of others. Ground rules direct and limit such interaction, fostering an understanding and appreciation of respect for others.
Through stimulating programmed activities, the child is encouraged to implement exciting feelings and perceptions of the school experience. In acquiring thousands of clear perceptions from well planned practical life, sensorial, mathematical, musical, art, language and science activities, the child masters mental building blocks needed to grasp the ever increasing ideas and concepts for learning and living effectively and successfully.
The goals of Montessori education are to help each child develop fundamental habits, attitudes, skills, appreciations and ideas for a lifetime of successful learning and living.