Philosophy

The very first school run by Maria Montessori was called Casa dei Bambini, which translates from Italian to Children's House, and it was intended to mimic a home environment, but offered materials, tools, and furniture that were sized appropriately for the children. Luminosa means "bright" in Italian, and I want our home to be a bright, warm, cozy space where children feel confident in exploring and discovering. It's also the part of my last name that I share with my daughters.

"He does it with his hands, by experience, first in play and then through work. The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence."

Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind

Montessori

The Montessori approach to education has so much breadth, but some of the most important tenets are:

Respect for the child--from getting down to eye-level to communicate, to seeing the child as a capable human being
Freedom within limits--children are given autonomy and choices: to work at a rug or a table, with this material or the other, for 20 minutes or an hour, next to a friend or by himself; but, there are also limits: only materials they have been shown how to use and that are available on the shelf, and using them in a way that doesn’t harm the material or another child.
Real and attractive, hands-on materials--you’ll notice activities are most often made of natural materials like glass or wood; they are enticing and call to the children, and they also offer feedback when not used with care. They are meant to be explored and used by children’s hands to give sensorial input that help a child make connections in the brain.

Fostering independence--children are shown materials that help build skills like zipping or buttoning, as well as sweeping when there’s a spill, but also to choose materials that interest them, to discover and work by themselves, and to ask for help when they need it
Opportunity for movement--children carry materials from shelves to workspaces, so movement is built into the work they choose, and it could be one trip, or 10. There is also a line on the floor specifically to encourage refinement of equilibrium and controlled movement.
Consistency--ideally, a child will be in the same environment with the same guide for three years, which allows them to build a trusting relationship with their teacher and environment, so they can feel confident in taking risks to make mistakes and learn more challenging concepts
Mixed age-group--having children of mixed ages gives younger children the chance to observe and learn from their peers, while older children can reinforce things they’ve learned while teaching them to younger children. **Casa Luminosa does not have a mixed age-group yet, as we’re just starting. Next year with more children, we will!
Following the child--children choose what interests them, and the guide presents materials that are a match to the child’s interest and developmental needs after careful observation

“A child is by his nature an avid explorer of his surroundings because he has not yet had the time or means of knowing them precisely. He willingly shuts his eyes, or is blindfolded, to shut out the light when he explores various shapes with his hands or when he gladly accepts darkness in order to be able to listen to the slightest sounds.”

Maria Montessori, The Discovery of the Child

Forest School

To complement the autonomy and independence given to children, sensorial experiences, and leadership in play of our Montessori experience, as well as give children more time outdoors in nature, we have Forest School once a week, each Monday. Children are given unstructured time to play in nature in the same location each week, so they can orient themselves and explore more deeply, and also so they can notice changes from week to week from impacts of weather and seasonal shifts, as well as humans and animals.

Children benefit from time outdoors both mentally and physically (see some of the resources below), develop executive function skills like planning and troubleshooting, as well as social skills like negotiation and teamwork. Outdoor play fosters a connection to nature and the environment that encourages children to become stewards of our earth.

“Nature is imperfectly perfect, filled with loose parts and possibilities, with mud and dust, nettles and sky, transcendent hands-on moments and skinned knees.”

Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods

Outside Resources

Information to further your knowledge on Montessori and Forest School techniques.