The Montessori method emphasizes creating a prepared environment that fosters preschool children's natural development and supports their learning. A Montessori-style prepared environment is a unique classroom design and one of the telltale signs of an authentic Montessori school. Here are four aspects of the prepared environment in Montessori that illustrate its importance.
1. Order and Structure
The Montessori preschool is carefully structured and organized to promote a sense of order, which is essential for children's development. Materials are arranged in a logical order and placed on shelves within easy reach of the children. This organization helps children learn to take care of their environment, develop their concentration, and focus on tasks.
2. Hands-on Materials
The Montessori environment is rich with hands-on materials that are designed to promote exploration, discovery, and learning. These materials are carefully selected and sequenced to match children's developmental needs, and they are designed to be self-correcting so that children can learn through independent work and experimentation. Learning through nature is another aspect of Montessori that allows children to experience things like life on a farm by raising vegetables or visiting farms.
3. Beauty and Aesthetics
The Montessori environment is also designed to be aesthetically pleasing, with attention paid to the colors, shapes, and textures of materials, as well as the overall ambiance of the classroom. A beautiful environment helps children feel calm, inspired, and motivated to learn. The aesthetics of a prepared environment are especially favorable for some students, including those on the autism spectrum because it offers them a stable, consistent atmosphere to learn in.
4. Mixed-age Groups
Montessori classrooms typically have mixed-age groups, with children spanning a three-year age range. This setup promotes social and emotional development by allowing younger children to learn from older children and vice versa. Mixed-age groups also allow children to work at their own pace and provide all students with opportunities to be class leaders by virtue of being among the oldest children periodically over the course of education.
The prepared environment in Montessori is designed to provide children with a safe, engaging, and nurturing space in which to learn and grow. By providing order, hands-on materials, beauty and aesthetics, and mixed-age groups, the Montessori method aims to support children's natural development and help them reach their full potential.
