the montessori method

The Montessori Method is an effective and vital approach to educating children that encompasses the role of the child in a vision of world peace. Dr. Maria Montessori, a noted Italian educator and physician (1870-1952), revolutionized early childhood education by advocating that children be allowed the freedom to explore and develop their own creative potential.

Montessori learning is offered in multi-age classrooms for children ages six weeks through eighteen years. The curriculum is divided into the following age groups:

• Infant, ages 6 weeks to 18 months
• Toddler, ages 18 months to 3
• Primary, ages 3-6
• Lower elementary, ages 6-9
• Upper elementary, ages 9-12
• Middle school and high school for adolescents

Each curriculum is a rotating continuum, based on the developmental needs of children during that period of life. The Montessori method stresses that children learn and progress at their own pace so that fast learners are not held back and slow learners are not frustrated by their inability to keep up.

Guided by a trained teacher in a unique environment designed to provide independent learning, a Montessori education seeks to develop self-reliance, responsibility, confidence, and sharing a sense of wonder about the world and each other.

The Montessori child is learning and not just memorizing. Each child is allowed supervised free choice of classroom activities and freedom of movement based on his or her interests, as long as those activities do not disrupt the well-being of the class.

The imaginative teaching material found in today’s Montessori classrooms were developed by Dr. Montessori over 100 years ago and are the heart of the process. The materials are self-correcting, enabling the child to proceed at his or her own pace and realize errors with minimal adult intervention.

The Montessori Method emphasizes learning through the use of tangible sensory objects, which reinforces memory and understanding. Children eagerly take up this reality-based “purposeful” work, which gives them the tools for a lifetime of creative learning.

As Dr. Montessori said, “Everything we do must … aim at improving the individual in order to improve society.”

Montessori realized the responsibility we have as adults to educate children in a way that protects their individuality while calling them to contribute to making our world a better place.

Through an integrated, inquiry-based curriculum designed to foster connections between and across subject areas, we teach students how to set goals, monitor and reflect upon their progress, and then challenge themselves to venture outside their comfort zone.

We realize every child is different and seek to make the most of those differences! Thus, our student-to-teacher ratio is intentionally low, while our faculty is exceptionally talented.Technology and transportation continue to reshape how we interact with the world, and will continue to do so. To take advantage of this and prepare students for this world, we engage students in real world experiences where they apply their learning in multiple off-campus projects.

Real World Preparation

The critical thinking and creativity that Montessori education develops are essential in the modern workplace, and the list of famous former Montessori students is long. We believe it’s important for children to learn how to communicate, think for themselves, learn, lead, and work as a team.

Montessori Principles

These principles serve as the foundation for our practice and decision-making across all levels of the school community. Each principle aligns with Montessori philosophy and Hillsboro’s mission to nurture compassionate, confident, and capable learners.

1. Prepared Environment:  Provide an environment that encourages independence and allows each child the freedom to direct their own lives and explore their path to empowerment. A thoughtfully organized, clean, and orderly space supports purposeful work, independence, and confidence.
2. Follow the Child:  Support each child’s natural learning process by focusing on their developmental needs and interests, using sensitive periods as a guide. Lessons are introduced based on readiness, and children explore subjects through hands-on, concrete experiences.
3. Multi-Age Classrooms: Create a diverse, multi-age learning community where peer mentorship and collaboration flourish. The 3-year cycle fosters leadership, empathy, and continuity, while diversity and cultural inclusion strengthen global understanding.
4. Concentration and Focus: Help the child cultivate deep concentration. Respect their engagement, wherever and whenever it occurs, as essential to development. Avoid unnecessary interruptions and protect extended work periods.
5. Global Citizenship: Make learning a springboard to spontaneous exploration, creative self-expression, and community service. Encourage leadership, stewardship, and meaningful contributions to both classroom and community.
6. Whole Child Development: Foster balanced and broadband human capability: spiritual awareness, ethical decision-making, emotional intelligence, executive function, and social responsibility. Support students in becoming whole, healthy individuals.
7. Movement and Memory: Provide freedom of movement and engage the senses. Movement supports brain development, sensory integration, and memory retention. Children should move with purpose throughout the day.
8. Collaboration Over Competition: Foster cooperation, not competition. Encourage peer support, shared discovery, and mutual respect. Success is defined by individual progress and community contribution.
9. Freedom with Responsibility: Balance freedom with limits. Children are empowered to make choices within a structured environment that emphasizes natural consequences, inner discipline, and mutual respect.
10. Grace and Courtesy: Teach and model respectful communication, peaceful behavior, and thoughtful interactions. Grace and courtesy lessons cultivate empathy, self-regulation, and belonging.

Is Montessori the Right Fit for My Child?

Montessori schools and parents work together to raise curious, compassionate and creative children. At Hillsboro, parent education and community involvement are pieces of that puzzle. Montessori is right for you if:

• You value independence in your child.
• You want your child to learn at their own pace, in their own way.
• You want your child to learn practical life skills in addition to academics.
• You want your child to learn about different world cultures and feel part of a global community.

Read more about whether Montessori is the right choice for your family here.