For over 100 years, Montessori schools around the world have used the methods and materials developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in Rome in 1906.
It’s exciting to have modern research confirm what we hae seen in our Montessori classrooms for the last century: Montessori education leads to children with better social and academic skills.
Dr. Angelina Lillard tested children who attended a Montessori school, and other children who did not, for their cognitive and academic skills, and for their social and behavioral skills.
“We found significant advantages for the Montessori students in these tests for both age groups,” Lillard said. “Particularly remarkable are the positive social effects of Montessori education. Typically the home environment overwhelms all other influences in that area.”
Among the 5-year-olds, Montessori students proved to be significantly better prepared for elementary school in reading and math skills than the non-Montessori children. They also tested better on “executive function,” the ability to adapt to changing and more complex problems, an indicator of future school and life success.