Authentic Montessori Classroom

Since “Montessori” is a word in the public domain, it is possible for any individual or institution to claim to be Montessori. But an authentic Montessori classroom must have these basic characteristics at all age levels:

• Teachers, credentialed in the Montessori philosophy and methodology for the age level they are teaching, who put the key concepts into practice.
• A partnership established with the family. The family is considered an integral part of the individual’s total development.
• A multi-aged grouping of students.
• A diverse set of Montessori materials, activities, and experiences that are designed to foster physical, intellectual, creative, and social independence.
• A schedule that allows large blocks of uninterrupted time for problem solving, seeing connections in knowledge, and creating new ideas.
• A classroom atmosphere that encourages social interaction for cooperative learning, peer teaching, and emotional development.