What is Montessori?
THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF GREEN GABLES MONTESSORI SCHOOL ARE
"TO HELP THE CHILD TO HELP HIMSELF" Dr. Maria Montessori"
Dr. Maria Montessori's lifelong work led to her belief in the necessity of reconstruction in education, not in education as most of us know it, but an "unknown education that is new, that is efficient, that gives help and a new orientation, a new knowledge, a new wisdom to the world*.
This belief led to her own philosophy of education based on psychological, biological and other scientific factors in relation to child development. Dr Montessori initiated a child centred personalised programme which integrates all aspects of a child's development.
In the child's world there is no separation between work and play. Play is the child's work, their natural occupation. The child has a distinctive urge to use his developing powers to their utmost capacity, the expansive mind of the child is limited only by the resources in his environment and the stamina of the adults who prepare the environment.
A dedicated Montessori school for the ages of two and a half to nine year olds has a carefully prepared environment with areas devoted to practical life (which includes care of self and environment), refinement of the senses, language and vocabulary skills, French as a foreign language, science, dramatic play, creative arts and music, development of number concepts, and mathematical operations (i.e. addition, subtraction, division and multiplication), as well as awareness of their environment geographically and historically. All of which the children are able to absorb through their inquiring mind and freedom to explore. In each area a variety of carefully designed materials help the child to gain skills and knowledge about a particular subject or area.
The social skills increase with his ability to work in co-operation with others as well as to concentrate individually for longer and longer periods of time. Ethical and moral values and self education evolve naturally as the children interact.
It is in the early years that the foundation stone is constructed on which the the adult human personality will be based.
The child is encouraged to think of himself/herself as a person, to be aware of and respect cultural differences; he is given the opportunity to work in an atmosphere of controlled independence which is created by a few well defined rules and routines.
Physical education is a very important part of the programme because much of the child's intellectual development, especially in the early years, is through movement. This is encouraged through a planned movement programme and set in a beautiful garden during good weather and indoors at other times. Swimming lessons are also part of the programme for our older children aged four and over.
It is our aim therefore to provide and maintain appropriate educational environments for children of all races, creeds or national origins, regardless of parents political beliefs or marital status.