Modified Montessori at
The Caedmon School

Maria Montessori began working with young children around the turn of the 20th century. At the time, she was quite radical in her views on the nature of childhood and how children learn. By identifying and developing a number of methodological principles, she created a philosophy whose main goal was to teach children by responding to their individuality. Considering how radical her ideas were at that time, it seems certain that her own views of education would have changed over the course of the century, just as the children themselves changed. We believe that Montessori education is an organic process, one that evolves as children evolve, in response to our changing culture and advancing technology. Current Montessori practices at Caedmon, therefore, incorporate a number of modifications to Montessori’s original methodology. Our interpretation of Montessori has evolved thoughtfully over forty years. As a result, what we call the "spirit" of Montessori prevails, and the most important aspects of her philosophy continue to be implemented at all levels.

In the Early Program:

  • Fantasy play is encouraged by incorporating open-ended activities and materials that lend themselves to creative play.
  • Children are provided with a variety of materials and activities to encourage the free expression of their artistic ideas. Art, music, and movement are incorporated into the program.
  • Interpersonal socialization is key. We focus a great deal of attention on fostering the social skills and language children need to get along with one another.

In the Elementary Program:

  • Some of the original materials designed by Montessori are modified and supplemented by other concrete materials, both purchased and teacher made, that are more appropriate for the fast-paced children of today.
  • Direct instruction in math and language arts is organized around small instructional groups, within which individual differences in learning style can be accommodated.

Some "traditional" methodologies, such as homework, classroom testing, and standardized testing, have been incorporated to prepare the children for transition to middle school.

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