Based on the work of Dr. Maria Montessori, a Montessori education describes an environment rich in multi-sensory content, in which children are free to explore at their own pace.
Montessori education is used worldwide and is appropriate across a wide age spectrum. Montessori emphasizes children learning intellectually; reading, writing, discussion and by tactile physical interaction with their environment.
For homeschooling families some of the lessons to be drawn are:
- Allow the child's natural interests to lead
- Foster an attitude of tolerance and non-competiveness
- Allow the child to gain responsibility and exercise choice
- Move from the concrete to the abstract
