Students in the Montessori classroom are provided with opportunities to engage in self-directed and self-paced learning. This style of learning is a unique element of Montessori education. This design does not mean that there is no structured time in the classroom. The time in class is structured to provide students with consistency and opportunities for self-directed learning. These two goals work in conjunction with one another in the strategically scheduled and designed Montessori classroom.

A consistent schedule

Consistency is an important element to provide in the classroom because it helps students thrive. The Montessori philosophy of education recognizes that students need to have a general idea of what to expect each day in the classroom to feel comfortable. This consistency is provided in many ways. The small class size and student to teacher ratio make it easy to develop consistency with the people in the classroom. The way time is scheduled in the classroom also promotes consistency for students. For example, in the primary and kindergarten classrooms a general daily schedule may include circle time with greetings, songs, games, and demonstrations followed by a work period where children choose from a broad range of materials in the environment. Throughout the day students also get outside time, story/closure circle, and lunch. The flow of the day will be consistent for students on normal school days.

Time for exploration

The design of the Montessori schedule leaves room for exploration and self-directed learning. Helping students develop into self-directed learners is a core tenet of the Montessori Method. Teachers schedule time for exploration and self-directed learning each day. If you look at the example schedule outlined above, you will see that there is a dedicated time for students to explore the materials provided in the classroom. All of the materials are intentionally chosen to help students master concepts that they need to learn. Students get a choice of what to work on within the structure that the teacher created. Putting learning on the schedule provides consistency while allowing for independence and personal choice.

There will be times in any classroom where the schedule has to be adjusted to accommodate special programming or unexpected changes. However, providing students with a general and predictable schedule most days is an important part of providing a quality educational experience. The Montessori classroom has more flexibility than the typical public classroom, but that flexibility is built into an overarching schedule and structure. You can see this unique design in person by scheduling a time to observe a class. Class observation will provide you with the opportunity to see these concepts put into action inside the Montessori classroom.

If you are ready to see the design and structure of the Montessori classroom for yourself, schedule a class observation here.