“Paideia” is a Greek word that means “the education of children.”
A characteristic of the Paideia concept is that education is an intrinsic component of a community; optimally the community educates. At
This belief is combined with Montessori teaching methods to arrive at Paideia's teaching philosophy of:
1. Giving each child an awareness of him/herself as a unique individual
2. Giving each child the opportunity to participate in learning experiences necessary for total development
3. Guiding each child's intrinsic desire to learn and question, and assist each one toward reaching his/her fullest potential
4. Giving each child a thirst for knowledge
5. Giving each child an understanding of the unique cultural, ethnic, social and physical characteristics of his/her community and the world
The Montessori method maintains that children between the years of two and six are at the optimum state for learning. Great importance is placed on the effectiveness of utilizing a child’s sensory-motor impulses as aids in absorbing information from the environment. What the child hears, sees, touches, and feels are important stimulants for learning. The correlation is that the young child can also learn to read, write, and calculate in the same natural way that he/she learns to walk and talk. Muscles and brain cells are tools for learning. The collaboration between the two cultivates the child’s own natural desire to learn and creates a foundation for self education.
Dr. Maria Montessori originated this educational philosophy in
“The education of even a very small child does not aim at preparing him for school, but for life.”