/ About WMS

The Montessori Method

Montessori Philosophy:

• The aim of Montessori education is to foster autonomous, competent, responsible, adaptive citizens who are lifelong learners and problem solvers.
• Learning occurs in an inquisitive, cooperative, and nurturing atmosphere. Students increase their own knowledge through self- and teacher- initiated experiences.
• Learning takes place through the senses. Students learn through manipulating materials and interacting with others. These meaningful experiences are precursors to the abstract understanding of ideas.
• The individual is considered as a whole. The physical, emotional, social, aesthetic and cognitive needs and interests are inseparable and equally important.
• Respect for oneself, others, the environment and life is necessary to develop a caring attitude toward all people.

The Montessori Method:

At Wilmington Montessori School, every child is actively involved in the learning process. Our teachers guide, listen and encourage, providing information at a pace that is responsive to the individual child's readiness to learn. They allow and promote self- discovery. Children respond through active participation and cooperation.

The Montessori classroom is democratic. Rules for behavior are shared, classroom policies and procedures are explained and discussed. Our children follow these procedures to the degree that their developing intellects allow -- with a sense of self- discipline and initiative that often seems remarkable to a parent unfamiliar with Montessori education. A single class, most with mixed age groups, may contain children working at a wide range of skill levels.

Each child assumes responsibility for his own actions and completion of tasks. The Montessori teacher encourages acceptance of that responsibility, and quiet, self-directed activity is the result.

Montessori-trained teachers are sensitive observers of the child' s developmental needs and skills, and match learning activities to each child. Once a child masters a particular skill, a higher level task is presented.

Each learning experience leads to new skill levels, the mastery of academic knowledge and, most important, to a sense of self-worth and self-confidence.

What Makes Montessori Unique?

• Montessori schools begin with a deep respect for children as unique individuals, and they work from a deep concern for children's social and emotional development. A core concept of Montessori education is to encourage children to become independent thinkers.
• Montessori schools are warm and supportive communities of students, teachers, and parents. Children don't get lost in the crowd.
• Montessori education consciously teaches children to be kind and peaceful.
• Montessori classrooms are bright and exciting environments for learning.
• In Montessori schools, learning is not focused on rote drill and memorization. Our goal is to develop students who really understand their schoolwork.
• Montessori students learn through hands-on experience, investigation, and research. They become actively engaged in their studies rather than passively waiting to be spoon fed.
• Montessori education is consciously designed to recognize and address different learning styles, helping students learn to study most effectively.
• We challenge and set high expectations for all our students, not only a special few.
• Montessori schools normally reflect a highly diverse student body and their curriculum promotes mutual respect and a global perspective.
• Montessori instills within students a love for the natural world. Natural science and outdoor education is an important element of our children's experience.
• The Montessori curriculum is carefully structured and integrated to demonstrate the connections among the different subject areas. Every class teaches critical thinking, composition, and research. History lessons link architecture, the arts, science, and technology.
• In Montessori schools, students learn to care about others through community service.
• In Montessori schools, we not only teach; we facilitate learning, coach our students along, and come to know them as friends and mentors.
• Students in Montessori schools are not afraid of making mistakes; they see them as natural steps in the learning process.
• Montessori students learn to collaborate and work together in learning and on major projects. They strive for their personal best rather than compete against one another for the highest grade in their class.

Montessori is an education for life.