When Dr. Maria Montessori spoke of the prepared environment, she wasn’t just describing a beautiful classroom filled with child-sized furniture and neatly arranged materials. She was describing a space that nourishes the whole person, a place designed to meet children’s developmental needs, spark curiosity, and invite purposeful activity. A Montessori prepared environment is a place designed for children. And the design deeply respects children’s natural drives, including their sensitive periods...
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Parents and teachers at Forestville Montessori School explain why they chose Montessori education for their children, and the impact Montessori has on their children's lives. Who do our children become? How does the Montessori philosophy aid this? Why does the world need more Montessori children - especially now? Watch the clip here and hear from these long-time Forestville Montessori families as they share the reasons they chose FMS, and the...
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At Forestville Montessori School, primary education is designed to be much more than a series of lessons. It is a carefully prepared journey that supports children to grow as capable learners, thoughtful community members and confident young people. Grounded in Montessori philosophy and supported by contemporary understanding of child development, the primary years (known as the Elementary Years in other parts of the world) offer children a rich and connected...
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On Tuesday evening, Denice was joined by the FMS Chair, Geoff Fouracre, to present the Strategic Directions 2025-2030 for Forestville Montessori School. At Forestville Montessori School, education is about nurturing capable, compassionate and curious young people who are ready to engage meaningfully with the world. That is why the launch of this five-year Strategic Directions is so significant for our community. More than a formal document, it is a shared...
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In Part One of this series, we began exploring the eight Montessori principles that Dr. Angeline Stoll Lillard examines in her landmark book, Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius. As we saw, what makes these principles so compelling is that Dr. Maria Montessori's intuitions about children were a precursor to what decades of developmental science have since confirmed about how humans actually learn. In this second and final installment, we...
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Montessori education has been in existence for over a century, but does it actually work? Dr. Angeline Stoll Lillard spent years researching this question, and her book, Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius, is a must-read. In her book, Dr. Lillard identifies eight principles at the heart of Montessori education. What’s key is that these Montessori principles align with what developmental science tells us about how humans actually learn. The...
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When most people think about what children need to thrive, they first think of the basics: food, sleep, safety, and love. Abraham Maslow described how fundamental needs (such as food, shelter, and sleep) must be met to satisfy higher spiritual needs, such as belonging, self-esteem, and self-actualization. What is perhaps less well known is that Montessori education builds on a very similar understanding of human nature and that we carefully design the prepared environment...
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Yesterday, we had the pleasure of hosting Hannah and Veronica from Rebound Health, Frenchs Forest, for an engaging and practical presentation on occupational therapy for children. Their insights not only illuminated the role of OT in supporting children’s everyday skills and emotional regulation but sparked thoughtful connections to Montessori teaching methodology. The child-centred, hands-on and purposeful learning environments at Forestville Montessori School all contribute to support sensory and emotional regulation...
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Have you ever wondered how your young child seems to learn without even trying? One day, they suddenly begin speaking the language, walking with confidence, or mimicking our gestures with astonishing accuracy. Dr. Maria Montessori described this extraordinary power of early learning as the Absorbent Mind, a special mental function unique to children in their first six years of life. The Absorbent Mind vs. the Adult Mind The child's mind...
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Harmony Week is a celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. Fittingly, this year’s theme is Everyone Belongs. These values reflect the core values of Montessori education and very specifically the values we hold true at Forestville Montessori School. Within our small school community there are more than 27 cultural backgrounds. 48% of...
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