| The PreparedEnvironment ... |
| Montessori classrooms offer a “prepared environment” with
specially trained staff who guide rather than teach the children. Although
the environment itself is structured the child has freedom to choose their
own work within that structure. Because the Children’s House instils self
discipline and respect for others, the chaos one might expect with this
freedom does not ensue.
Children benefit from a mixed peer group in the Montessori classroom. Younger children model their behaviour on that of older children, and older children reinforce their own learning by demonstrating to and instructing younger children. The range of abilities within a mixed peer group also means that children with differing levels of ability in different areas of learning do not feel isolated from their peers. There is always someone in the lassroom working at a different level to them! |