Montessori education is a system for the education of children from birth through age 18. It is based upon principles developed by Dr. Maria Montessori throughout her life. The focus of this system is the development of materials, educational techniques and observations which support the natural development of children. The teacher in a Montessori classroom serves less as an "instructor" and more as a guide or facilitator. Children are encouraged to "learn how to learn," thus gaining independence and self-confidence. Because the method is based upon developmentally appropriate activities, the child often learns through the process of education - by doing. The Montessori school is designed to accommodate various stages of development in children which occur in roughly 3-year cycles. From birth to 3 years of age the child is absorbing directly from the environment, almost as a sponge. It is during this phase that many language and motor skills are acquired without formal instruction.

During the second phase from 3 to 6 years of age, the child reaches a different stage in which repetition and manipulation of the environment are critical to the development of concentration, coordination, independence and a sense of order. The child learns skills for everyday living, sorting, grading, classifying - all which lead to the development of writing, reading and a mathematical mind.

When the child reaches the next phase of development, ages 6 to 9, the imagination is the key to learning. At this age there is an increasing awareness of the world and an interest in its wonders. The classroom can now excite the child by using this increased imagination to explore the universe. During this phase the child is presented with "the big picture," an overview of the inter-relatedness of things. The curriculum works from the large concept to the more refined. Concepts are introduced through hands-on materials which encourage and engage the child and assist in an understanding of concepts before they are committed to memory.

Because the child goes through these various stages, Montessori classsrooms are organized into 3-year age groupings. This allows a greater fexibility in meeting each child's individual needs and permits the child to develop with fewer social transitions. The environment becomes the "teacher," with the child as the initiator of his/her own education.

The Montessori approach to education was re-introduced in the United States around 1960. By today's estimates, there are at least 4,800 Montessori schools in the country, serving some 400,000 children from infancy through secondary levels, in both public and private settings. Special training is required for becoming a Montessori teacher. Montessori teacher education is available in almost 100 institutions located thoughout the U.S. and an additional number in other countries of the world, in both special-purpose institutions and college/university settings. An organization formed in 1991, the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE), offers an accreditation process for Montessori teacher preparation courses and is supported by nine Montessori professional organizations and a group of independent training programs.

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