Montessori Education is both a philosophy of child development and a practical application for guiding children's growth. Its primary beliefs center on:

• Children's absorbent mind - The unique ability of young children's minds to absorb everything in their environment.
• Children's sensitive periods - The stages when children show an intense interest in a particular skill or aspect of their environment.
• A prepared environment - An environment where materials and learning equipment are arranged such that children may independently explore and choose activities maximizing their learning potential.
• Attitudes and role of the Teacher - Teachers prepare the environment by carefully observing the child, serve as a guide for children within the prepared environment, and treat each child with utmost respect as unique individuals

In 1907, Dr. Maria Montessori, Italy's first female physician, opened a school in San Lorenzo, Rome. Her goal was to help children become self-motivated, independent learners. She initiated a method which actively engaged children in learning by using their five senses rather than merely a rote approach. The Montessori method soon proved to be an amazing success.

Although times have changed and teaching methods have evolved, the principles based on Dr. Montessori's observations of children have remained essentially the same.

Yes and no. Yes, in the sense that Montessori works extremely well with children having a wide range of learning styles and ability levels. At Okemos Public Montessori we have observed that children who seem to especially flourish in our environment are those who are developing an internal sense of discipline and are capable of working independently. Elementary level students who have a difficult time focusing on their work, require constant teacher input and direction, are easily distracted, or have a hard time with transitions, may not find Montessori classrooms to work for them.

In the Montessori environment, children are given freedom with responsibility. Children are free to move about the classroom, to observe or talk with other children, to choose activities appropriate for their ability, or to ask the teacher to introduce new materials to them. Children are not free to disturb other children or to misuse or abuse materials.

The teacher observes and works with individual children, introducing materials and giving guidance when necessary. Through careful observation, the teacher prepares the classroom environment as necessary to aid each child's growth. The teacher continually assesses the direction in which a child has indicated he or she wishes to go, and actively works to help the child achieve his or her goals. In the upper levels, the teacher conducts group lessons in reading and math on a regular basis, as well as group lessons on cultural subjects.

Parents are encouraged to be actively involved in classroom activities, parties, and school events. Many Montessori parents volunteer on a regular basis in classrooms, and teachers often invite parents and members of the community as special guests to share their professional expertise or life experiences with students. All Okemos students receive graded report cards twice a year, and parents are invited to attend conferences in the fall and spring to review their child's progress. Okemos Public Montessori teachers have also hosted evening parent information meetings to help those parents interested in implementing Montessori concepts in their child's home environment.

Children learn from each other. Young children learn higher level cognitive and social skills in part by observing other children as models. In a mixed aged Montessori classroom, children's collaborative skills and cooperation are cultivated because older children act as role models and teachers of younger children. Older children reach a deeper level of understanding when explaining concepts to a younger child. Multi-age groupings help children develop a sense of community as well as foster social development.

Every Montessori school and almost every Montessori teacher have their unique interpretation of what a "true" Montessori education entails. There is tremendous variation among schools (and even between classrooms within the same school) in their application of Maria Montessori's principles. The only "true" Montessori schools were the ones taught by Dr. Maria Montessori herself. Most modern day Montessori schools have evolved to some degree due to social change and technological advancements. Okemos Public Montessori is a "true" Montessori in the same sense that other schools may make that claim- it attempts to remain true to Dr. Montessori's philosophy and practices. Dr. Maria Montessori intended for her teaching method to be used in public schools- she desired all children, regardless of ability or background, to benefit from her teaching methods.

Every child is unique, therefore no one educational approach can fit every child. The best way to determine whether Okemos Public Montessori will be a good fit for your child is to visit, observe the classrooms, and talk to the teachers and staff. While other parent's perspectives can be helpful, their assessments should be viewed with some caution because their opinions are formed only through the lens of their own child's experience. Your child is unique, and might have an entirely different experience in exactly the same setting. The best way to tell if Okemos Public Montessori is right for your child is to rely on your own impressions and interactions, and to trust your instincts as to what is best for your child.