St. Andrews Montessori School

Classroom Environment

Children construct themselves and develop their potential through interaction with the environment. Montessori emphasizes careful preparation of environments that respond to the specific needs and tendencies of children at each stage of development. These "prepared environments" are sensitively created and maintained by the adult to provide optimum conditions for independent activity and full development of individual potential.

The prepared environment is more than materials; it involves the careful coordination of space, people, and time as well as the selection of activities and materials.

Outdoor Environment

Outdoors, children are able to garden, collect and identify leaves, label trees, study cloud formations, even find geometric shapes in shadows. The natural environment becomes an extension of the Montessori classroom, and the children delight in making connections between the two. In keeping with the school child's stage of development, going outside provides occasions for new levels of responsibility and independence.