Montessori Method
The Montessori Method is an educational approach that values autonomy, active learning and the integral development of the child in a prepared and welcoming environment.
The result of scientific research, the method was created by the Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori (1870-1952) , who defined it as “a method of helping life”. With over 100 years of existence, it is known internationally for its academic excellence and individualized attention to integral development.
Main differences of the Montessori Method
Environment conducive to learning
The classroom is spacious, attractive and comfortable, with furniture and all physical structures at a height and proportion appropriate for the child.
EMBI also has green areas, a bathroom in each room, a bilingual library, a chicken coop, an experimental kitchen and workstations divided by areas of knowledge, providing opportunities for active academic work, through activities such as gardening, environmental studies, cooking and animal care.
Multi-age classes (grouped or mixed ages)
Here at EMBI, as in all Montessori schools, we work with multi-age classes. This means that we have children of different ages in the same classroom, respecting the limit of up to 3 years between the oldest and youngest.
In this way, they live with diversity, learn to help and be helped, become a reference for each other and establish more supportive and cooperative relationships than when they are only with children of the same age.
Concrete learning
Classroom materials are samples of the real world and are within reach of children, who handle them and learn in practice – as in a large laboratory.
The materials are designed for each age group, attracting attention and providing just the right amount of challenge.
Each material has a clear objective and works on one difficulty at a time, building step by step the knowledge you want to achieve.
Academic excellence
Montessori schools are known worldwide for their academic excellence. Montessori alumni know how to be leaders and become happy and successful professionals, as the method allows each individual to discover how they can best contribute to the society in which we live.
Former Montessori students include: William and Harry Windsor (princes of England), Larry Page and Sergei Brin (founders of Google), Beyoncé Knowles (singer) , Gabriel García Marquez (writer awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature), Jeffrey Bezos (founder of Amazon), Anne Frank (author of “The Diary of Anne Frank”), among others.
Prepared adult
Teachers have a high level of cultural capital and are passionate about knowledge, thus being role models of what we want for our children. Here at EMBI, the entire teaching team receives specific training in the Montessori method, in addition to having a degree in Pedagogy.
The Montessori teacher is, above all, an adult who truly understands the child so that he or she can provide him or her with exactly what he or she needs.
