While working with young children in Rome, Maria Montessori opened the first Montessori school, Casa de Bambini, in 1907. Her work remains both relevant and innovative to this day. The Montessori method eventually led to a global movement in education that seeks to empower rather than dominate learning environments and equips students with agency over their educational careers.

The Montessori method is characterized by multi-age classrooms, tactile learning materials, and a focus on fostering independence, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning. Teachers in Montessori classrooms act as guides, supporting and facilitating the child's exploration of various subjects at their own pace. The method aims to nurture not only academic skills but also social, emotional, and practical life skills, fostering holistic development in the child.

Ms. Bailey Bednarz is a teacher at Montessori Academy in Paradise Valley, 6050 N. Invergordon Road, an A-rated school by the Arizona Department of Education. Every detail of Ms. Bednarz’s classroom is designed to facilitate independent learning. The room features natural lighting, an organized layout, and an atmosphere that is both inviting and peaceful. The shelves are lined with specialized materials with names such as “pink tower” for learning spatial awareness and “golden beads” for understanding the base 10 mathematical model. When students handle these materials, they are able to connect abstract concepts with hands-on learning. In this environment, Ms. Bednarz teaches students directly as they move calmly between their self-directed lessons and activities.

“Encouraging independence and self-direction helps my students leave the classroom more confident in their learning abilities,” Ms. Bednarz said. “Instead of telling students the answers, we ask guided questions so they can learn to solve the problems themselves.”

Her co-worker, Ms. Molly Hansen, echoes this sentiment. “Ms. Bednarz will ask her students what the purpose of the lesson is, and how they can find what is being asked of them,” she said. 

Here, the Montessori method assists students in developing critical thinking skills and a capacity for self-initiative.

The typical Montessori classroom is set up differently from those of traditional learning environments. The students in Ms. Bednarz’s room are six-nine years olds in grades one-three. Starting in first grade, the three-year model used at Montessori Academy allows students to enter a classroom and remain for a period of three years until they progress to the next program level. In addition to providing stability, social development, and long-term relationships, this multi-age setup also increases peer learning and mentorship.

Another important aspect of a Montessori classroom is the use of highly specialized learning materials that cover various subjects such as mathematics, language, sensorial exploration, and practical life skills. These works are intended to be handled and manipulated by children to help them connect abstract concepts with hands-on learning. They are so effective that many have been adapted for mainstream markets.

“When you go to a learning store now, you'll find a lot of learning tools based on original Montessori materials,” Ms. Bednarz said.

However, many of the works that have been adapted are no longer the standards used in Montessori classrooms. Such changes are the reason the Montessori method has remained relevant over a century since its inception.

“The wonderful thing about Maria Montessori is that she was a scientist,” notes Ms. Bednarz. “She looked at what came naturally to kids and learned through observation. It’s 100 years later, but the science of learning is still evolving through research, and Montessori educators are paying attention.”

Montessori Academy is currently expanding the number of students it accepts at all program levels, including in Ms. Bednarz’s classroom. To see the Montessori method in action, interested parents and guardians can contact the front office at 480-945-1121 to schedule a tour or visit the school’s website at www.azma.academy.