American Montessori Academy is dedicated to Nurturing the Full Human Potential
We deliver the highest standard of Montessori education through instilling Dr. Montessori’s philosophy into our community.
Our Philosophy is rooted in the Montessori Method. It’s our way of life — and we provide a foundation for academic and personal excellence and encourage the love of learning inherent in every child through participation and engagement.
American Montessori Academy Students are encouraged to grow to their fullest academic, social, emotional, spiritual and intellectual potential. We believe strongly that our students’ daily experience should be a happy and rewarding one. Eagerness to learn, learning for the joy of learning and wanting to know as much about their world as possible is what we believe are invaluable qualities that we can instill in our children.
Through the dynamic partnership of child, parent and educator in the school, home and community, a consistent Montessori framework to learning is developed, thus educating the full human capacity.
Our Philosophy
Our philosophy is rooted in the Montessori Method, a result of the experience and discoveries of devoted scientist and insatiable learner, Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952).
Upon graduation as the first woman medical doctor in Italy, Dr. Montessori became interested in the education and training of special needs children. She was a keen observer who, through her study of children as well as through extensive travels around the world, learned that certain phases of development are universal and continue throughout our lives.
Dr. Montessori developed an approach to education as a means of providing children with the kind of environment from which they would draw what is necessary for the development of their fullest human potential. As such, at the heart of learning at American Montessori Academy schools thrives in an enriching, nurturing and diverse education environment in which our AMS / AMI Montessori Certified educators promote joy in learning and the development of each child by enabling their intellectual, emotional, physical, and social growth through the Montessori philosophy and approach.
Dr. Montessori believed in the uniqueness of each child and in their potential as an architect of a better and more peaceful world. This simple and profound truth inspired her lifelong pursuit of educational reform, curriculum development, methodology, psychology, teaching and teacher training, all based on her dedication to further the self-creating process of the child.
At American Montessori Academy, we believe each child to be a unique individual and endowed with great potential. This is fostered through nurturing the heart of the child and challenging the intellect by providing an individualized Montessori experience for each child while promoting self-motivation. We believe that the integrity of the Montessori prepared environment must be preserved and moreover, the foundation of the school’s success is built by a community involving child, parent and educator.
An additional, important aspect of the Montessori experience is the natural, outdoor environment, the use of which is core to our philosophy. Dr. Montessori noted that throughout the different planes of development ages and stages, the child’s connection to the natural world helped the child better know himself or herself, to understand his or her place in the world, and ultimately, to find personal fulfillment as he or she made a positive contribution to the world.
We believe in peace, discovery, and development creating a holistic and supportive environment for the growth of each and every child.
American Montessori Academy Students are encouraged to grow to their fullest academic, social, emotional, spiritual and intellectual potential. We believe strongly that our students’ daily experience should be a happy and rewarding one. Eagerness to learn, learning for the joy of learning and wanting to know as much about their world as possible is what we believe are invaluable qualities that we can instill in our children.
Skills of independence, self-discipline, problem-solving and a secure foundation of early academic knowledge develop spontaneously within a Montessori environment. Students are able to think critically, work collaboratively, and act boldly — a skill set for the 21st century.
In a Montessori setting students…
| Are valued as unique individuals. | Children learn in different ways, and Montessori education recognizes this and accommodates all learning styles. Students are also free to learn at their own pace, advancing through the curriculum as they are ready, and are guided by teachers and an individualized learning plan. |
| Begin developing order, coordination, concentration, and independence at an early age. | Classroom design, materials, and daily routines are not just important, but are part of the hallmarks of Montessori education. These elements are critical in supporting each individual student’s emerging “self-regulation,” or the ability to educate one’s self, and to think about what one is learning. |
| Are part of a close, caring community. | The multi-age classroom — another hallmark of Montessori education — a familiar community and a family-like structure. Older students enjoy stature as mentors and role models, while younger students feel supported and build confidence about new challenges ahead. Teachers model respect, care and kindness, and a belief in peaceful conflict resolution. |
| Enjoy freedom within limits. | Working within critical parameters set by their teachers, students play a role in deciding what their focus of learning will be. Montessori education values internal satisfaction and understanding that it drives curiosity and interest, and promotes the joy of learning for lifetime. |
| Are nurtured and encouraged in becoming active seekers of knowledge. | It’s important that students embrace their freedom to pursue answers to their own questions, and a Montessori environment with the right tools provides the best opportunities for children |
| Learn that self-correction and self-assessment are vital. | Students learn to look critically at their own work as they mature, and the Montessori approach prepares them to recognize, correct, and learn from their errors. |
Skills of independence, self-discipline, problem-solving and a secure foundation of early academic knowledge develop spontaneously within a Montessori environment. Students are able to think critically, work collaboratively, and act boldly — a skill set for the 21st century.
Ready to take the next step?
Ready to take the next step?
We deliver the highest standard of Montessori education in the Chicagoland area through instilling Dr. Montessori’s philosophy into our community.
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