If you walk into a well-run Montessori classroom, you’ll notice a quiet buzz of energy. Children are engaged in purposeful activity. Some are sitting quietly working on an activity while others set up their workspaces or return materials to the shelves.
How is it possible that so many young children concentrate? Although in the background, the classroom itself, also known as the prepared environment, plays a key role. Read on to learn what the prepared environment is and the benefits it offers.
What Is the Prepared Environment in Montessori?
In the Montessori philosophy, the prepared environment refers to the classroom environment. Dr. Maria Montessori created her educational method by observing what works best. She created different environments, offered a variety of activities, and watched how children responded. She noticed that children do well when they can help care for their classroom, make choices, and discover engaging work.
Elements of the Prepared Environment
In a Montessori classroom, the prepared environment includes essential elements, many you can see, and others that you’ll only notice if you observe a classroom in action. This also means that you can set up your classroom beautifully, but there are also key elements of the classroom that the teachers create by setting expectations and boundaries.
Freedom of Movement and Choice
One of the most unique aspects of Montessori classrooms is that children are free to move around and choose activities. Instead of raising their hand to ask permission to go to the bathroom, sharpen a pencil, or get a drink of water, they can just do it.
Children are also free to choose learning activities from the shelves in the classroom. While the teacher may guide children to certain lessons, they ultimately have a choice.
This freedom comes with limits. Children must follow basic expectations, such as respect for others and helping keep the classroom clean and organized, among others.
Learn more about how to cultivate a calm classroom here.
Learning Materials
Dr. Montessori created materials, or hands-on activities, that children can use to learn. She created a variety of materials for each curriculum area. For example, the math materials include number rods, beads for counting and performing operations, the Stamp Game, and sandpaper numbers, among others. Children progress from learning about quantities and numbers to learning how to multiply, divide, and even perform algebra.
The learning materials must be in excellent condition, clean, complete, and ready to use. Each material is displayed on a tray, in a box, or in a basket. This way, children can move the material to their workspace.
Learn how to set up a Montessori classroom.
Beauty and Simplicity
Artwork, indoor plants, lamps, textiles, and more, all have a place in Montessori classrooms. Dr. Montessori believed that children are inspired by beauty, which is why she thought it was important for classrooms to be welcoming and attractive.
Montessori classrooms include beauty, but they’re not visually busy. Neutral walls and minimal decor helps protect children’s concentration. To avoid overwhelming the children, Montessori classrooms typically feature a few choice sculptures, photos, artwork, and plants. Simple, yet beautiful, is the style.
Order
Dr. Montessori noticed that children crave order. For this reason, Montessori classrooms are very organized. Children help keep the classroom neat and clean throughout the day. From sweeping the floor to putting materials away correctly, children work together to maintain a neat and organized space.
The classroom is typically divided into sections of shelves. Each area holds the materials and activities related to one curriculum area. The language area may also include a reading corner with a cozy place to read and a bookshelf. Items on the shelves also have a specific order, and children must return each material to the exact spot they found it.
A Variety of Workspaces
In Montessori classrooms, children don’t sit at rows of desks. Instead, they can choose to work at a table or on the floor. When children work on the floor, they use a mat or carpet that helps define their work area and prevent other children from stepping on it.
Working on the floor is not only fun and comfortable for children, it’s also practical. Children may work with some larger sets of blocks, rods, or materials that need more space than a table can provide.
Mixed-Age Environment
Unlike traditional classrooms, where children are all within about a year in age, children in Montessori classrooms may be up to three years older or younger than their classmates. The mixed-age classroom helps the older children become leaders. The younger children are motivated by watching the older children learn exciting skills such as how to read. Plus, the younger children learn from the older children, who may sometimes help them with a lesson.
Why Is the Prepared Environment Important?
The prepared environment creates a wonderful space for self-directed learning. When executed well, the prepared environment offers many benefits to the children, such as:
Fosters Concentration
A classroom filled with engaging and interesting learning materials invites concentration. Because children can choose their work, they’re motivated and excited to complete lessons and activities.
The simple, yet beautiful decor in the classroom also promotes concentration. Children aren’t overwhelmed by an overstimulating environment. Instead, they can work peacefully in a space that feels calm and organized.
Builds a Lifelong Love of Learning
When someone forces you to do something, you might feel resentful, annoyed, and unmotivated. However, in Montessori classrooms, children learn to pursue their academic interests of their own free will. Because children choose lessons, they also direct their own learning, a skill that serves them for life.
Teaches Decision-Making Skills
In life, every day is filled with choices. The freedom in Montessori classroom helps children learn to prioritize their time and make decisions about which materials to work with.
Teaches Social Skills
The mixed-age classroom and freedom children are afforded creates many moments to practice social skills. Beyond saying, “excuse me” or “thank you,” children also learn to navigate challenging moments. For example, what if one child is using a material another child wants to use? Then, children need to learn to wait for a turn.
The classroom environment also creates opportunities for practicing empathy. For example, if one student needs help tying their shoes, another may help. Or, if one student spills a material, others can help clean it up.
Fosters a Sense of Responsibility
Children learn to be a part of a community that works together to keep the classroom running. When children are expected to help clean and look after the classroom plants and/or pets, they build a sense of responsibility.
Instead of assuming an adult will look after them or tell them what to do, they start to notice what needs to be done. For example, “Oh, I spilled some water. I’ll get a cloth and wipe it up.” These moments help children become contributing members of the community.
The Role of the Prepared Environment
In Montessori, the prepared environment is as important as a teacher. In fact, one of the teacher’s main tasks is to maintain the prepared environment and ensure it’s always meeting the children’s needs. The prepared environment, along with the teacher, helps children learn, grow, and reach their full potential.
Would you like to learn how to create and maintain a prepared environment that inspires concentration and learning? Many of the methods and strategies used in Montessori classrooms can be applied to any early childhood classroom.
At Montessori Mantra Teachers’ Training College, we offer various training programs. Sign up for our MACTE-accredited Montessori Early Childhood Diploma Course or register for our Montessori Assistants’ Course. Through our courses, you’ll build a strong understanding of the Montessori philosophy and learn how to apply it to real-world classroom settings.
Have questions? Get in touch, and we’ll be happy to answer your questions and guide you through the application process.
