SOPHIA
MONTESSORI
MONTESSORI
When Dr. Maria Montessori opened her first school in the slums of Rome in 1907 on the feast of the Epiphany, she did not set out to revolutionize education. Yet within 2 years of opening, kings and queens from all over the world came to see this phenomenon that was her method of education.
“The education of even a small child, therefore,
does not aim at preparing him for school, but for life.”
Maria Montessori
A PEEK INTO A
MONTESSORI MORNING
THE BENEFITS OF A
MONTESSORI EDUCATION AT SMA
Nurturing a love for others and God in a Byzantine Catholic environment
that is wholly and authentically Montessori
A loving learning community created through mixed age groups following children's natural planes of development as presented by
Dr. Maria Montessori​​
Individualized teaching with a deep respect for each child’s own pace, needs, ability, personality, and potential​
A scientifically based approach with highly trained teachers who are guides, observers, and scientists learning side by side with their students
Excellent academics through hands on materials created to allow children to develop concentration, coordination, a sense of order, and independence as well as foster creativity, collaboration, and problem solving skills
Fostering a deep love
of learning, intrinsic motivation, and
self-discipline
BYZANTINE
The Catholic Church consists of six Rites, which are further broken down into 24 Churches. While all are in communion with Rome, each have different traditions and practices that have developed under the influence of the local culture. The Byzantine Rite is Catholicism as it developed in the eastern Roman (or Byzantine) Empire.
In speaking of the Western and Eastern Rites,
Pope St. John Paul II said,
"The Church must breathe with her two lungs!"
Byzantine Catholicism, with its unique liturgical customs and emphasis on aspects of sacred theology, shows the beauty and universality of the Holy Catholic Church.
MONTESSORI IN THE
BYZANTINE TRADITION
Maria Montessori herself was Catholic and her faith greatly influenced her work. One could say that the Montessori approach is a very Catholic approach to understanding the human person and to learning. Both Montessori and the Byzantine tradition are very hands on and respect the need for physical connection and interaction for learning.
Through the use of Catechesis of the
Good Shepherd, we present to the children the reality of Christ the Good Shepherd, learn the nomenclature of Divine Liturgy and the Church, read about the infancy of Christ, meditate upon the parables, learn about the Liturgical seasons and traditions of the
Byzantine faith, and more.