{"id":7403,"date":"2019-10-13T12:34:59","date_gmt":"2019-10-13T09:34:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mschool.vldlk.com\/?page_id=7403"},"modified":"2026-07-17T19:53:01","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T16:53:01","slug":"main-principles","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/montessorischools.bg\/en\/main-principles\/","title":{"rendered":"Main principles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Planes of development<\/span><\/span><\/h2>

Montessori philosophy provides guidance on human development. Each stage encompasses six years occurring roughly between ages 0-6, 6-12, 12-18 and Montessori theory recognises them as a continuum. The period from birth to six years is \u201creferred to as the Absorbent Mind\u201d. The period is specific with tremendous transformation and extraordinary growth. \u201cSpiritual embryo\u201d sub-stage continues during the first three years and is led by the needed care and the unconscious interactions with the environment. The \u201csocial embryo\u201d sub-stage covers the period from three to six years when the child masters the acquired insights and opens his mind to social interactions. We see certain characteristics in the 6 year olds, when they enter into the second plane of development, which is characterised with the power of the imagination and abilities of the reasoning mind. The period between 12 and 18 years of age is the birth of the social being, who needs to establish their social identity.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Human tendencies<\/span><\/span><\/h2>

The innate power for that natural self-development, which is linked to a human evolution, is known as a \u2018hormic\u2019 impulse\u201d and represents an innate child\u2019s energy that drives him to seek certain stimuli with great intensity. In Montessori philosophy, the human tendencies are the key for understanding how and why a Montessori classroom calls out to the very soul of the child. These are: Orientation, Order, Exploration, Communication, Activity, Manipulation, Work, Repetition, Exactness, Perfection, Movement.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

Sensitive periods<\/span><\/span><\/h2>

Sensitive periods represent a window of time in which the child possesses increased sensitivity and perceptiveness in a certain area \u2013 movement, senses, language, order, small things. Children are drawn toward the activities and materials for satisfying their developmental need. It is up to the adult to recognise this and introduce concepts for which the child is naturally curious and developmentally ready. Learning is effortless when correct materials are presented during their aligned sensitive period.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Help me to do it myself<\/span><\/span><\/h2>

This request, addressed to Maria Montessori by a child, became the primary creed of her learning method. In Montessori pedagogy, the role of adults is to help children develop their innate curiosity to gain new knowledge and skills relating to the world around them. The teacher serves as a guide to bridge the child from one skill to another, offering the least amount of help needed and supporting the child toward functional and intellectual independence.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

Children construct their own personalities<\/span><\/span><\/h2>

Children interact with their surroundings, and are stimulated by them. We believe that it is the child who is best qualified to decide exactly how and when to integrate stimuli into his actions. When considering the different learning styles of each child, this holistic approach considers the needs of the individual as they construct their personality.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

The hand is the instrument of the soul<\/span><\/span><\/h2>

The child uses his hands to create, discover, and exert control over the surroundings. A child learns by touching, feeling and manipulating everything. A child\u2019s hands explore, gather information, and also imitate the motions of adult hands. Hand work is the foundation for understanding their material world and its connections, and supports the development of thinking and speech. The hand as an instrument of the mind allows humans to create our ideas into the world around us.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

Free choice of Freedom and Responsibility<\/span><\/span><\/h2>

In the Montessori environment, children themselves choose what they will do, with whom they will work, and for how long they will work. This freedom of choice comes with the responsibility of showing respect for oneself, for others, and for their environment. This sort of freedom also develops self-control and inner discipline within the child. During this independent work time, children get to know not only their possibilities, but also naturally occurring limitations \u2013 i.e. the current limits of their skills and intellect, the limits of objects, the limits of time, and limits set by ground rules, parents and teachers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Prepared environment \u2013 development of sensory discrimination<\/span><\/span><\/h2>

The Montessori teacher arranges the materials and activities in a precise sequence on the shelf and considers all aspects of a child\u2019s learning in this process. The environment is prepared, not only physically, but emotionally, socially and otherwise to support the child\u2019s independence and curiosity. The materials and lessons given are meant to introduce new concepts for which the child may explore and develop intellectually. Children in a Montessori classroom have direct interaction with their environment and the teacher makes adaptations to ensure it remains safe and stimulating. The social preparation includes options for working alone or in small groups. The teacher invites children for lessons, and remains flexible when a child is not interested or ready. The teacher\u2019s expertise is shown in accommodating all learning styles when preparing the environment.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>

Concentration<\/span><\/span><\/h2>

Concentration occurs naturally when a child\u2019s needs are being met. Concentration or absorption, occurs during periods when a child is connected to a meaningful activity on a level of individual interest. The child innately feels calm, is motivated to use reason, and can respond to the material in a variety of ways. In this \u2018zone\u2019, a child can sometimes become unaware of his\/her surroundings, as they are engrossed in the present moment of learning. It is important to respect this time as it is the foundation of learning.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Planes of developmentMontessori philosophy provides guidance on human development. Each stage encompasses six years occurring roughly between ages 0-6, 6-12, 12-18 and Montessori theory recognises them as a continuum. The period from birth to six years is \u201creferred to as the Absorbent Mind\u201d. The period is specific with tremendous transformation and extraordinary growth. \u201cSpiritual embryo\u201d...","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17282,"parent":0,"menu_order":60,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7403","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-02 02:02:27","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"translation_priority","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/montessorischools.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/montessorischools.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/montessorischools.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/montessorischools.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/montessorischools.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7403"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/montessorischools.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7403\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19612,"href":"https:\/\/montessorischools.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7403\/revisions\/19612"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/montessorischools.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/montessorischools.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}