About the Nonprofit
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The mission of the Damariscotta Montessori School is to provide a carefully planned, stimulating Montessori environment which will help children develop within themselves the foundation for a lifetime of learning, thinking and living. We are a child-centered community that honors individuality and encourages respect for one another and oneself. We believe that the deep commitment and dedication of our small community, which is made up of our school’s children, parents and staff members, is vital in the fulfillment of this mission.
Montessori education was developed at the beginning of the twentieth century, after a scientist began to notice that changes in the environment led children to achievements far greater than initially anticipated. Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, began developing her methods after having great success educating children that had been deemed uneducable by everyone else.
Dr. Montessori spent a lifetime creating and refining her methods and materials, and her work has been carried on by generations of dedicated educators around the world. Montessori schools have stood the test of time; they continue to cultivate joyful learning environments for countless children. Many families who are exploring options for their child are curious: “What makes Montessori special?”
- Deep respect for the child
- Multi-age classrooms
- Individualized instruction
- A focus on intrinsic motivation
- Choice within carefully constructed limits
- Hands-on materials for younger, concrete learners, with a gentle progression to abstraction for older learners
- Calm, natural, and intentional learning environments
- A reliance on formative assessment, allows teachers to adjust their approach mid-lesson and meet children where they are at any given point in time.
