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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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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If you’ve ever watched a young Montessori child build a word out of beautifully crafted red and blue letters, you’ve witnessed something profound. This is the moment when spoken language begins to take physical shape through the Movable Alphabet, a beloved Montessori material that opens the door to writing long before children’s hands are ready for a pencil. What Is the Movable Alphabet? The Movable Alphabet is a wooden box...
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At FMS, our teachers facilitate your children’s growing independence, confidence, capability and real-world application of everything they learn at school. But there’s just so much to learn, and children never stop learning, even at home. This is why we love sharing ‘Montessori at Home’ with families in our community, so you can engage with and extend your child’s education, develop strong relationships with your children, and establish your unique community…
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In order to be truly free, we need to be able to make our own choices, which means having the skills and abilities to then act upon our choices. Without independence, we can’t truly be free. As children’s independence grows, so does their opportunity for freedom. They have more choices available and more to consider. The freedom children experience in our prepared learning environments is directly related to their independence.…
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As we start a new school term, we focus on settling children into their classes, their work and their school routine. At Forestville Montessori School (FMS), routines and schoolwork can look a little different than other schools. With this in mind, we’d like to share what learning at FMS looks like from a parent’s point of view. Here, an FMS mother of 3 shares her process for choosing a Montessori…
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It’s that time of year again. The temperature is rising ever so slowly, the daylight is gracing us with its presence a bit more each day, and it feels like the world outside is waking up. Spring does something amazing for us all. While we believe in the importance of finding fun ways to be outside all year round, spring seems to pull us there without the need for…
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