Montessori Education
A Hands-On Approach to Learning
By Wendy Little and Phil Keeling
As you navigate Atlanta’s educational landscape, you’re likely to come across many types of schools and educational methods beyond simply public and independent schools. One that has become increasingly popular in metro Atlanta is Montessori education, named after Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator. Montessori education is a distinctive and widely respected approach to teaching that emphasizes independence, hands-on exploration followed at the student’s own pace, and respect for a child’s natural development.
While Montessori schools are perhaps most often seen at the preschool and elementary levels, the Montessori method has been implemented all the way through high school. At each level, the focus is as much on social, physical, and emotional development as academics. Life skills, responsibility, and respect for the environment are taught alongside more traditional subjects, such as science, mathematics, history, and language. Learning objectives are accomplished through experiential, practical, and sensory activities in an organized setting.
The Montessori method began in 1907 when Dr. Montessori was invited to open a school for disadvantaged children in the San Lorenzo district.
Observing how children learn naturally through exploration and repetition, Montessori created materials designed to refine their senses and skills. She noticed that when given the freedom to choose and concentrate, even the most unruly children became calm, engaged, and eager to learn.
How Montessori Schools Teach
Montessori schools differ from traditional public or independent schools in several ways. At the heart of Montessori education lies an intense trust in the child’s innate drive to learn.
Compared to the structured environments of public and private schools, a Montessori school can feel quite different. Traditional classrooms often emphasize direct instruction, testing, and uniform curricula. The Montessori model, by contrast, values process over product and curiosity over compliance.
In public schools, students typically move through subjects as a group, with a teacher leading the lessons at a set pace. Independent schools may offer smaller class sizes and more specialized instruction, but they often maintain similar structures. In a Montessori classroom, children take ownership of their learning, and teachers act as collaborators rather than authorities.
Generally speaking, classrooms are less rigid, and the student, not the teacher, is the focus. You won’t see rows of children sitting at desks. Instead, students are grouped by age ranges rather than grades, and allowed to work and think independently, given the opportunity to learn from their own mistakes and grasp concepts at their own pace.
The classroom may be divided into distinct learning areas, each filled with specialized materials designed to engage multiple senses. A child might learn geometry by physically handling wooden shapes, or language by tracing letters made of sandpaper to feel their form before writing them out.
Essentially, this comes down to the child learning, understanding, and using specific skills, rather than focusing on tests and forgetting that information the moment the exam is finished. Instead of giving a lecture or handing out assignments, teachers work one-on-one with students, providing guidance when necessary, like presenting a new topic or a new challenge to meet when a child is ready.
Choosing a Montessori School
You may wonder whether this approach is right for your child. After all, every child learns in their own way. Montessori educators encourage parents to ask questions and talk about their child’s learning style, habits, and home environment when visiting a school. Does your child learn better in a group setting or on their own? Do they like to stay in one place or do they need to move around?
Children who operate with few limits at home may not flourish within the structure of a Montessori school, and children used to very strict guidelines may have trouble adapting to a self-directed setting that allows them the freedom to explore on their own.
When considering a Montessori school, it’s important to understand that they’re not all the same. Since the term is not trademarked, any school can refer to itself as a Montessori school. Some may claim to follow an “alternative” or “hybrid” Montessori program or offer Montessori instruction for just part of the day.
The most reliable sign of a school’s adherence to Montessori principles is certification. Montessori teachers are trained and certified in the Montessori method. What’s more, schools that have been accredited by organizations such as the Association Montessori International (co-founded by Maria Montessori) and the American Montessori Society have been determined to operate in accordance with Montessori standards.
The Benefits of Montessori Education
Research into Montessori outcomes paints a largely positive picture. Studies have found that Montessori students often outperform their peers in both academic and social-emotional measures. They tend to show stronger executive functioning—skills like focus, organization, and self-regulation—and demonstrate heightened creativity and problem-solving ability.
One of the greatest benefits is the cultivation of deep-rooted motivation. Because children choose their work, they learn to pursue goals for personal satisfaction rather than external rewards. This self-directed approach fosters resilience and confidence—qualities that serve them far beyond the classroom.
In recent years, tech entrepreneurs and innovators—from the founders of Google to Jeff Bezos—have credited Montessori schooling with shaping their curiosity and creativity. It’s no coincidence that many leaders in creative industries praise an education that prioritized exploration over rote memorization.
Montessori education operates on the principle that education is not a process of filling vessels, but of lighting fires. In an age of information overload and dwindling attention spans, Montessori’s slow, mindful, and purposeful approach may be just what your child needs.