Choosing a Montessori School- The Prepared Environment

There are three basic categories I would look at and ask about if considering a Montessori school for my child. They are the prepared environment, the method, and the adults (teachers).

Today I will be discussing the environment, with a focus on children from 0-3

The Prepared Environment: Maria Montessori came up with different environments for children in different planes and sub planes of development. You will find a different classroom set up for each of the following age groups

• 0 – walking/15-18months (Called a nido or Infant community)
• 18months- 2.5/3years old (Called the Infant community or Toddler community )
• 2.5/3 – 6 years old (Called the Casa, Casa de bambini, Children’s house or Primary
• 6-9* (Called Lower Elementary)
• 9-12* (Called Upper Elementary)
• 12-15 (Called Secondary or Middle School)

*Sometimes combined to 6-12

While each of these environments are different and prepared to support the child’s development for that specific age group, there are some qualities they all have in common.

– It should be Beautiful and attractive such that it calls to the child. Some factors that contribute to the beauty are light, space, colors, simplicity. It is not cluttered or over stimulating.

A welcoming space

– Orderly: A place for everything and everything in it’s place. This supports the child’s need for order, provides security and allows him to be independent

Can you tell which one is the music shelf and which one is the language shelf?

The furniture should be the child’s size and weighted appropriately so that the child can use it independently. Materials are also at the child’s level

Little bench and shoe shelf allows this 19 month old take off and store her shoes independently Child sized tables and chairs. Cubbies that can be reached independently

There should be space for movement: The shelves and tables and set up to encourage movement. It is through movement that the children experience the environment and learn.

Space, freedom and opportunity to move

Materials should be made of natural materials such as wood, glass, fabric, metal etc.There should be plants, flowers, pictures, paintings and other aesthetic materials.

Aesthetically pleasing environment. Notice there is little or no plastic

Come back tomorrow to see specifics on the environment for the walking vs. non-walking child.

As always I would love to hear from you… questions, comments, contributions!

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Junnifa Uzodike

Junnifa Uzodike is an AMI trained Montessori educator who works from home and lives in Nigeria with her husband and son. She writes at www.nduoma.com where she aims to provide parents and teachers with helpful information on laying the child's foundation for a good life. While she uses the Montessori mother label more often, she also had a water birth, exclusively breastfed, breastfed while pregnant, baby wears , cloth diapers and practices a lot of natural parenting ideas.

Latest posts by Junnifa Uzodike (see all)

• 10 Things You Can Do to Help Your Child Concentrate - May 7, 2015
• A Montessori Infant Room - April 9, 2015
• Choosing a Montessori School- The Prepared Environment - March 12, 2015