Montessori Philosophy

Montessori education is guided by the work and writings of Italian physician, scientist and educator Dr. Maria Montessori (1870–1952). At its core the philosophy is simple: to “follow the child.” This approach assumes that every child is a unique individual who is naturally driven to grow, develop and learn.

The goals of a Montessori education include instilling in children a love of learning, the ability to make appropriate learning choices and respect for oneself, other people and the physical surroundings.

Bringing this philosophy to life requires tremendous care and preparation on the part of the adult in the classroom. The Montessori classroom is composed of the following three components: the child, the prepared environment and the adult (teacher).

Rogers Park Montessori School Philosophy

At RPMS we seek to create an intimate environment in an urban setting that can nurture all who are part of the community—children, parents and faculty. We depend upon a highly dedicated and skilled group of teachers and administrators to create an educational program of the highest quality. We also depend upon committed and involved parents to contribute time, talent and financial resources.

Our classes are multi-age, three-year groupings, in keeping with the Montessori practice. The mixed age groups provide for peer teaching, role models and leadership experience; they also enhance the sense of community within the classroom.

Since a successful Montessori environment depends so greatly on children having focused periods of time in which to complete tasks and activities, we make a priority of maximizing uninterrupted work time. Special classes and instructions, such as Spanish and drama, are offered on a limited basis to enrich the learning experience.

Above all, we place the highest importance on serving the needs of the child, for as Maria Montessori said, “One test of the correctness of educational procedure is the happiness of the child itself.”

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