Principles

1. Active listening and encouragement in an emotionally safe atmosphere.
2. Freedom of choice in a prepared, literacy-rich, scientific environment.
3. Child-centered, inquiry-based learning.
4. Meaningful relationships among peers, teachers, administration and parents. Involving students in creating solutions.
5. Abundant opportunities for children to mentor and have a voice.
6. Implementing intentional guidance practices.
7. Encouraging self-acceptance and tolerance in a pluralistic community.
8. Participating in sustainable living practices.
9. Promoting a sense of ownership through community and planetary involvement.
10. Nurturing self reflection
    

Principles Defined

1. Active listening and encouragement in an emotionally safe atmosphere.

Living Montessori uses reflective, nonjudgmental listening to create a safe environment where children are free to express themselves emotionally, physically and spiritually. We believe it is important to accept the full range of emotions that we all have as human beings as a crucial step towards self-acceptance, true understanding and a healthy sense of self.  

2. Freedom of choice in a prepared, literacy-rich, scientific environment.

The Montessori Method is a hands-on learning system where the educator prepares the environment and the environment becomes the teacher. Students are immersed in an environment that is rich in age-appropriate language, math, science, history, geography, botany, health, nutrition and social studies. They may choose to be involved in a variety of scientific experiments and question the assumptions, join a discussion, express their view point or spend hours exploring the language materials. Regardless of their choices the classroom is prepared to motivate children to question, think, invite, explore, experiment and work at their own pace, allowing the learning to deepen.

3. Child-centered, inquiry-based learning.

The educator prepares inquiry-based, or open-ended, learning materials to encourage curiosity. The atmosphere is designed to be emotionally safe, engaging, manageable, comfortable, and meaningful to the students so they can experience success and develop a passion for learning.  

4. Coaching, role modeling and involving children in creating solutions.

Our faculty is sensitive to the children’s limited ability to meet their needs appropriately, express their ideas and speak up.   We model and coach appropriate social skills, self-reflection and respect for others.  Students in our program are heard, gently guided to reflect on issues, invited to contribute ideas toward resolution and take responsibility so that they may experience life as responsive, empowered beings, rather than reactive, powerless people seeking control over others.  

5. Abundant opportunities for children to mentor and have a voice.

The Montessori Method fosters leadership and innovation where children are encouraged to think and question. They are listened to with respect and when age appropriate, invited to participate in setting classroom rules and take leadership roles. At Living Montessori, as children mature in their development, they begin to give lessons to their peers who are often younger, so they may master their skills and gain depth and confidence in their growth.

6. Implementing intentional guidance practices.

Discipline at Living Montessori is based on an understanding of each student’s individual needs, limitations, abilities and developmental stage. Misbehavior is viewed as undeveloped skills and used as teachable moments with a positive approach. The purpose of discipline is to facilitate the process of developing abilities, for example, to listen, follow instructions, develop social skills and learn in a shared space. As children grow with us, they are coached to practice understanding, acting from intrinsic motivation, conscious awareness, respect of self and others and restraint of impulsivity. The ultimate lifelong goal is to help children to continue to mature so as to make appropriate and healthy choices.   

7. Encouraging self-acceptance and tolerance in a pluralistic community.

Children in our program learn in an atmosphere of acceptance, cooperation and respect. We discuss similarities that connect us and learn about differences by encouraging curiosity.  Living Montessori implemented the Second Step Program, a leadership curriculum designed to teach non-violent communication skills.  Leadership training also fosters consistency, routine, clear expectations and calm and peaceful behavior in the classroom.  Students have the freedom to work without interruptions and share the space with respect. In this setting, they are more likely to develop a higher tolerance for others. They naturally experience harmony and tend to attract and model the same.  

8. Participating in sustainable-living practices.

Sustainable means capable of continuing with minimal long-term effect. Generally, practicing sustainability is giving back more than what you take from the earth; reducing waste, reusing, recycling and avoiding the depletion of natural resources. Additionally, sustainable-living practices create balance in order to strengthen and support life for oneself, others and future generations.

Students are exposed to practical life experiences, community outreach programs, health and fitness participation, excellence in academics, yoga, dance, gymnastics and other fitness programs, which are included to support healthy development of sustainable practices. Serving organic meals, providing organic gardening practices, purchasing fresh, locally-grown produce, using safe cleaning agents, applying zero VOC paints in our facility and utilizing green materials where ever possible, are just some of the ways Living Montessori models responsible living. Reuse, Reduce and Recycle are daily practices.  

9. Promoting a sense of ownership through community and planetary involvement.

Through self and environmental care and respect, children begin to take responsibility. They learn to work together in a democratic classroom, to clean up after themselves, to treat the materials with respect and gradually move toward caring for plants and nurturing the environment. This enables students with a sense of ownership, which leads to greater awareness of personal needs, as well as the needs of those around them. As their awareness grows, their participation expands and they begin to assist others. Children who are fulfilled seem to naturally love to participate and contribute outside of their immediate environment. Living Montessori facilitates this desire by engaging students in community-supported activities that support other children. Experiencing this beautiful, innate quality of generosity seems to touch their hearts and bring joy. Our faculty is extremely careful not to rob students of this experience by allowing the gradual process to bring out their innate qualities, rather than force any virtue in a moralistic fashion.

10. Nurturing self-reflection.

We understand that self-reflection is delicate and, undeniably, a lifelong process. For healthy development, children need our love, acceptance and guidance. They need the space to make mistakes, the encouragement to pick up and start over, the experience of “doing it my way,” and the freedom to be and explore in a safe environment. They need to grapple with difficulties, using their intellect and their heart. Graceful observation of the true self requires fully living.