Importance of Prepared Environment in Montessori Curriculum

What is a Prepared Environment?

“The first aim of the prepared environment is, as far as it is possible, to render the growing child independent of the adult.”

Maria Montessori, ‘The Secret of Childhood’, 1966.

According to Maria Montessori, the school environment should encourage independent learning and exploration. Therefore, in the Montessori curriculum prepared environments play a crucial role in facilitating children's learning and development. It is designed to be child-centred, with carefully selected materials and activities that promote exploration and independence. The prepared environment fosters independence, self-discipline, and a love of learning in children. It also allows children to explore and discover their interests and promotes respect for others and the environment.

Montessori classrooms have a distinctive sense of order, beauty and harmony. Everything has a purpose and a place. Its neutral colour scheme and minimalist design promotes focus and concentration. Attention to detail and the organisation of classrooms, create a calming atmosphere for learning. The intentional layout of the classroom also allows for easy movement and collaboration among learners.

A prepared environment has six guiding principles:

• Freedom of choice:

Learners in a prepared environment are empowered to make decisions about their day-to-day activities. In this environment, there are no teachers standing in the front, teaching a lesson and learners are not forced to sit at their desks in rows. Instead, children are free to move around the class, deciding for themselves what activity they would like to work on and where they want to work. They can choose to either use a desk or work on the floor. Teachers do not ‘teach’ how to do the activity. They observe and step in only when some assistance is needed. Montessori’s prepared environment emphasizes, active learning, individual pace, and self-correction. The instructions are personalized and take into account the needs and interests of every child.

The prepared environment is designed to support children's independence and self-mastery. All the furniture is child-sized, such as low open shelves for easy access. These classrooms reduce demand for adult assistance and increase self-regulation in learners.

• Stability and structure

Learning occurs in a stable and predictable environment in Montessori classrooms. The furniture and shelves are always in the same place so children know where to find their learning materials and the order in which they belong. This stability in the learning environment helps children develop a sense of security and internalise order.

• Beauty

Beauty is a distinctive feature of the prepared environment as it is used to foster a sense of harmony, order, and comfort for both teachers and learners. In order to make children feel at home or at least at ease, Montessori’s classrooms are mostly equipped with natural materials and soft furnishings. The rooms are often painted in pastel or muted colours and are naturally illuminated or use warm lighting. Plants are also part of many Montessori classrooms.

• Nature and Reality

A key characteristic of Montessori education is to encourage interaction with the real world. As a result, nature and natural resources are utilized as much as possible in classrooms. In order to master the fundamentals of mechanics and improve dexterity, practice for learners involves real fabric fasteners like buttons, metal locks, and latches. Real experiences help children develop confidence for real life.

• Social Environment

Montessori classrooms provide a safe space for social interaction. Through work, rest, and play, children can freely engage with one another. In addition, as children learn to be independent, they acquire social skills such as respecting others' workspaces, resolving disagreements constructively, and caring for nature. Montessori's multi-age classroom can empower older children to be role models for younger children, enabling them to develop compassion and empathy for others.

• Intellectual Environment

The preceding five guidelines of the prepared environment meet in the intellectual environment. In Montessori, children develop both intellectually and personally. They are able to develop foundational abilities in thinking for themselves, working independently, and coordinating with others.

Best Montessori schools in Coimbatore provide a child-centred approach to education. They emphasize independence, creativity, and critical thinking skills while offering children a safe and nurturing environment to explore their interests and develop a love for learning.