We were invited to tour Lane Cove West Montessori Academy, located at 2 Waterview Drive, Lane Cove. Being only a 7-minute drive from Gladesville, this location is a great option for many local families.
After visiting Turramurra Montessori Academy just a month prior, we discovered there was even more to learn about the Montessori Approach to education! We were also able to witness the implementation of the approach across multiple settings and see just how impactful it can be for children.
Dr Maria Montessori
Dr Maria Montessori was an Italian physician, educator, and innovator, acclaimed for her educational method that builds on the way children learn naturally. She opened the first Montessori school in Rome on January 6, 1907.
Dr Maria Montessori developed her unique method of educating children over a professional career of 50+ years through intense scientific observation of children from many ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds from birth to maturity. It is based upon a deep understanding of child development.
About the Methodology
The key principles of the Montessori Methodology are independence, observation, following the child, correcting the child, the prepared environment and the absorbent mind. It is characterised by providing a prepared environment: tidy, simple and real, where each element exists for a reason in order to help in the development of the child. Children work with materials that were scientifically designed to help them explore our world, develop basic cognitive abilities, recognise errors by themselves, and become responsible for their own learning.
The hands-on materials are carefully selected and placed on child-height shelves, everything in its place and on view for children to select. This offers the child opportunities to commit to interesting and freely chosen work, which brings out long periods of concentration that should not be interrupted.
In a typical Montessori classroom, you would see objects in baskets, trays, or boxes arranged on a shelf in an orderly and appealing way. Each activity contains purposeful work that is designed to teach a specific concept.
Below is our photo of educators at Lane Cove demonstrating the concept of floating and sinking – a classic Montessori experiment, of which there are any more. Every activity undertaken is underpinned by Dr Montessori’s theories of the ‘asborbent mind’ of children. Each activity is intentional and works to extend on previous learning.
About Lane Cove Montessori Academy
The Lane Cove Montessori Academy opened in March 2020 and is gorgeous in its design and layout.
The Centre showcases three beautifully appointed Montessori classrooms and two dynamic outdoor play areas.
They accept children aged 0 – 6 years and open from 7:30am – 6:00pm. They offer nutritious catered meals and have designated short-term parking for families.
Outdoor Area at Lane Cove West
The Outdoor area at Lane Cove West Montessori Academy is large and open. On a daily basis, the educators set up the outdoor play area based on children’s interests, for example they prepare the sandpits with toys, set up a quiet space, create a music area, and set up an obstacle course where children can practice their gross motor skills.
If children show a particular interest in a Montessori material, such as the Pink Tower, the educators will create a space where children can sort and compare toys by size to further their interests, skills, and knowledge of visual discrimination.
Similarly, if children are interested in dinosaurs, they would create a space where children can explore and learn about dinosaurs. This might include setting up a small world, creating an activity where children can sort different species of dinosaurs, or implement an activity where children can match the dinosaur to their footprint.
To find out more about Lane Cove West Montessori Academy, visit www.montessoriacademy.com.au or you can contact their Family Care Team over the phone on 1300 000 162.
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