Why Choose Montessori Education?

Montessori follows the child’s interests and developmental readiness. The child has lessons modeled by a trained Head Guide who observes the child based on these two components. The child then has the freedom to practice this lesson repeatedly and independently until mastery. Extensions or new concepts are then modeled to the child, depending on his interest and, again, readiness. In a traditional learning environment, a child and classmates would learn from a topic decided by the teacher. There are variations of this same topic to meet the different learning styles of the children. However, the whole class moves together to complete the topic and move on to the next.Montessori classrooms are comprised of students of multiple ages to allow younger children to be inspired and taught by older children, a natural time of developmental milestones to take place, and the older children to gain confidence and mastery of skills by teaching the younger children. Each level (Nido, Toddler, and Primary) is created based on the planes of development which are separated into cycles. Therefore, Nido ranges from 6 weeks to 18 months, Toddlers from 14 months to 3 years old, and Primary from 2 ½ to 6 years old. Because we honor the child’s readiness, he can transition to the next level within an appropriate range of time because of his personal development rather than according to an age or move up date on a calendar. Within this environment, there tends to be fewer behavioral problems because of the balance of mixed ages. Traditional classrooms are grouped by age (typically one year at a time). When there are many children of the same age in one classroom, they tend to mimic each other’s actions and behaviors and feed off of one another which can be positive or negative.

Children in a Montessori classroom have freedom of choice and movement. This is earned and has limitations. A child may choose to do whatever work he has had a lesson on for as long as he wants to so long as the work is being respected and done properly. There is only one of any type of work in the classroom (there are not multiple sets of the same material), which limits who can use a material and allows children to practice multiple lessons throughout their morning. In a traditional environment, children sit at a desk or table and follow a schedule designed by the teacher. There are often duplicates of the same learning materials for several children to practice the same concept.

Montessori classrooms are inquiry-based with countless purposeful materials that appeal to the child’s senses and real-life experiences. Traditional classrooms at the Early Childhood level are often play-based and/or emphasize rote learning and memorization.

At Centennial Montessori Academy, we understand that each child is on a unique developmental path. Our thoughtfully prepared environments encourage children to engage with materials that stimulate curiosity, deepen focus, and promote independence. Whether a child is working quietly with practical life materials or exploring mathematical concepts through hands-on tools, the goal remains the same: to foster self-confidence and a lifelong love of learning. Our Head Guides are deeply attuned to each child’s progress and provide individualized support while respecting natural growth patterns. We believe that education is not one-size-fits-all, and that’s why our approach allows children to flourish at their own pace. Families choose Centennial Montessori Academy for its commitment to authenticity, warmth, and a true understanding of childhood development. Through a strong partnership with families, we nurture not only academic growth but also emotional intelligence, resilience, and a strong sense of community.