Who we are
One spring day in 2024 over a warm cup of tea, Laura shared her long-held dream of starting a Montessori school. Mary’s enthusiasm was immediate, and in that moment, a partnership was born.
Laura, a mother of two Montessori students, is an AMI-certified Montessori teacher and administrator, a child behavior consultant, and holds a Master’s degree in Education and Developmental Psychology.
Mary, a mother of four adult children — all Montessori students — and a grandmother of four, brings over 20 years of expertise as a certified Montessori teacher.
Together, Laura and Mary’s extensive classroom experience and deep commitment to the Montessori philosophy make them ideal partners to bring their vision to life.
Little Brook Montessori school stands today as a testament to their passion for the Montessori Method of education and their commitment to share Dr. Montessori’s philosophy of early childhood growth and development with families in their community.
Who was Dr. Maria Montessori?
Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was an Italian physician, educator, and innovator who pioneered the Montessori Method of education, which is now practiced worldwide. She was Italy’s first female doctor, and she dedicated her life to observing and understanding how children learn and develop.
Montessori's work revolutionized early childhood education by recognizing the profound capabilities of very young children and empowering them to reach their full potential through self-discovery and purposeful activity.
Key Tenets of the Montessori Method
Groundbreaking Approach to Education
Montessori’s educational philosophy emphasizes child-led learning, where children learn through exploration, hands-on activities, and self-directed work. She believed that children have an innate desire to learn and can thrive in a well prepared environment that encourages independence and respects natural laws of development. Teachers are known as “guides” based on the premise that children self-construct their knowledge, alongside the guidance of a well trained teacher, also known as the “prepared adult”.
Observation-Based Learning
Through her observations, Dr. Montessori discovered that children are naturally curious and capable of incredible focus when given the freedom to explore in a prepared environment. She designed educational materials and activities that are both engaging and purposeful, helping children develop motor skills, sensory awareness, and problem-solving abilities. The certified Montessori teacher observes each child and guides them accordingly, and the child learns to respectfully observe their peers hard at work, so as not to break their concentration.
The Importance of Hands-On Learning
Montessori emphasized the strong connection between hands-on activity and brain development, famously stating, “What the hand does, the mind remembers.” This understanding is deeply embedded in the Montessori Method, where she developed a series of hands-on, beautifully crafted materials whose purposes - both direct and indirect - are interwoven across all areas of the classroom. The child moves through the curriculum from concrete learning to a more abstract understanding of concepts as they progress.
Mixed-Age Classrooms
Montessori advocated for mixed-age groups in classrooms (like the 3-6 year old Primary program), believing that younger children benefit from learning from older peers and are exposed to a wider range of knowledge, while older children reinforce their own knowledge by teaching their younger classmates. This approach fosters collaboration and empathy, and enhances the social development within each child.
The Prepared Environment
Montessori emphasized creating a learning space that is orderly, beautiful, and accessible to children, encouraging independence and self-discipline. This "prepared environment" is tailored to meet children’s developmental needs, allowing them to freely choose activities that resonate with their interests. Each activity was specifically designed with distinct purposes to meet the child’s developmental needs.
Legacy and Global Impact
The Montessori Method has grown into a global movement, with thousands of Montessori schools worldwide continuing to honor her vision. Her approach remains influential, advocating for education that nurtures a child's mind, body, and spirit, especially during the formative years – birth through age 6 — and she has prescribed curriculums for infant, toddler, preschool, elementary, middle, and high school programs as well.
