Montessori Fundamental Principles.

Principle 1:

Classes in Montessori Schools are mixed-age and non-graded.
Mixed-age classes comprise at least three-year groupings corresponding to the Planes of
Development: 0 – 3; 3 – 6; 6 – 9 and 9 – 12 or 6 – 12; 12 – 15 and 15 – 18 or 12 – 18.
Mixed-age groups are not correlated to grades, nor are they divided in other ways according to achievement levels or normative standards.

Principle 2:

Montessori schools accommodate an extended period of uninterrupted self-chosen activity – a period during which children can choose their own activity and work undisturbed for a minimum of three hours.

Principle 3:

Rewards and Punishments are not used in a Montessori environment.

Principle 4:

A prepared environment is a critical component of Montessori Pedagogy.
The prepared environment
Serves the developmental and pedagogical needs of the children using it;
Supports freedom of movement, speech and association;
Supports free choice of activity;
Facilitates normalization and valorization;
Includes a full range of Montessori materials appropriate to the age for which it is prepared.

Principle 5:

The adults in the Montessori environment exhibit and apply the principles of Montessori
pedagogy through

A disposition of respect and patience towards the child;

An ability to balance the principle of non-intervention while at the same time not abandoning the child;

Trust in Montessori principles, methodology and pedagogical aims;

Seeing the role of the adult as primarily observer, scientist and interpreter of the environment rather than as a teacher in the conventional sense;

Guiding the child to normalization and development appropriate to each Plane of Development.

Principle 6:

Montessori schools develop curriculum guidelines which conform to the vision of child
development and the educative goals outlined by Maria Montessori.
*Principles adopted at the 2011 SAMA AGM/Amended at the 2016 SAMA AGM

Ivana Savov SAMA Membership Certificate

SAMA Annexure G Code of conduct adopted at GM 2012

I M Smart SAMA 2019

Ivana Savov. SAMA 2019