At Owensboro’s very own Maximilian Montessori Academy (MMA), this is what happens each day. MMA is an excellent educational option for the community, and is dedicated to helping each child reach his or her potential by teaching not only academics, but also morals, character, and basic life skills.

Dr. Maria Montessori was a pioneer in education, and founded a method of instruction that facilitates independent exploration and allows for individual mastery of concepts. In her studies, Maria Montessori observed that given developmentally-appropriate materials and the freedom to follow their interests, children will teach themselves. The goal of Montessori education is to encourage a child’s natural capacity for learning, with the teacher serving as a guide.

In a Montessori classroom, students are valued as unique individuals; they develop a sense of order, concentration skills, and become self-monitors; they are part of a close community and get to know one another; and they are taught to self-correct and learn from their errors. Students learn innovation and critical-thinking skills, essential for surviving in the current workplace.

“The greatest sign of success for a teacher… is to be able to say, ‘the children are now working as if I did not exist.’” – Dr. Maria Montessori