At Charles Ellis Montessori Academy, children learn by doing. The Montessori approach encourages curiosity, independence, and a love of learning through hands-on materials and purposeful work.

This page offers a glimpse into what makes Montessori education unique. You’ll find information about the materials students use every day, along with recommended books for parents who want to learn more about our philosophy and approach. Whether you’re new to Montessori or simply curious about how children learn in our classrooms, these resources will help you see why Ellis is such a special place to grow and learn.

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Montessori Materials: 

The Montessori Materials sometimes referred to as the “Didactic Apparatus” are tools that lead the child to the discovery of concepts and skills, and aid the child in constructing their understanding of the universe and how it works. The Montessori Materials provide a precise framework for progressions into higher levels of learning and act as a jumping–off point for student-based research, experimentation and innovation. Montessori didactic materials used independently by the child at his/her own choosing helps develop internalization of the concepts being learned. This continues from primary into the elementary levels. The prepared environments and Montessori materials at all levels allow for continued growth towards abstraction.

Recommended Texts by Maria Montessori:

 The Absorbent Mind

 The Discovery of the Child 

The Montessori Method

 The Secret of Childhood From Childhood to Adolescence To Educate the Human Potential 

Other Related Texts: 

Montessori: The Science behind the Genius by Angeline Stoll Lillard 

Montessori – A Modern Approach by Paula Polk Lillard 

A Parent’s Guide to the Montessori Classroom by Parent Child Press 

The Normalized Child by Kathleen H. Futrell 

Children of the Universe: Cosmic Education in the Montessori Elementary Classroom, by Michael & D’Neil Duffy