Why is freedom and independence so important in a Montessori classroom?
Children learn best when given the opportunity to manipulate and explore the things in their environment. Lasting impressions of the physical world around them are the foundation from which children build purposeful learning. A child in the Montessori classroom is free to move about, selecting any activity or lesson to work with for as long as they wish. They understand that they must use the lessons with purpose and care and replace them in their proper place when they have finished. Most of these lessons are didactic and self-correcting in nature allowing the child to observe their work and make corrections themselves without relying on external cues from the teacher. In this way, the child is able to master his environment on his own which is empowering on both a social and emotional level. A child’s self-esteem is greatly increased when they are able to accomplish tasks independently. It is not uncommon to hear “No thank you, I can do it myself” throughout the school day. By foster
