The Montessori Way to Academic Success

Authentic Montessori schools are known for operating under the philosophy of “Follow the child,” which means that each child is seen as a unique individual with their own pace, interests, and ways of learning. The children develop higher self-esteem, confidence, and a strong sense of self-worth. The emotional and social development of the children will always be a top priority for us. But the Montessori approach offers even more than that.

Sometimes we get a question from the parents whether their child will be prepared academically for primary school, as they get an answer from their child to what she/he learned that day: ‘I was playing all day’. It warms my heart knowing that children feel that way while they naturally progress in their journey of mastering the activities in all our curriculum areas.

It is a common misconception that children in Montessori schools "just play" all day and do not focus on academics as much as children in traditional, more structured schools. This misunderstanding arises because Montessori classrooms look very different from conventional classrooms. Instead of rigid desks, textbooks, and teacher-led group lessons, Montessori classrooms feature hands-on learning materials, child-led exploration, and self-paced work cycles. Learning is often referred to as “work” rather than play. However, to children, this work feels like play because it is engaging, enjoyable, and driven by curiosity and interest.

The reality is that Montessori education is academically rigorous and deeply focused on building strong foundations in literacy, mathematics, science, and problem-solving. The difference lies in how Montessori teachers teach these subjects - not through rote memorisation, but through meaningful, hands-on experiences that lead to deep understanding and mastery.

RESULTS OF STUDIES

One of the most significant studies supporting the academic advantages of Montessori education is by Lillard and Else-Quest (2006), published in Science. Their research compared the academic and social development of 5- and 12-year-old children in Montessori and non-Montessori environments. The study found that Montessori children exhibited superior performance in reading, mathematics, and social problem-solving. They also demonstrated better executive functioning - the ability to plan, focus attention, and control impulses - which is directly linked to academic success.

Further supporting this claim, Dohrmann et al. (2007) examined the long-term academic outcomes of children who attended Montessori preschools. Their study revealed that Montessori students continued to excel in maths and science even in high school, suggesting that the benefits of Montessori education extend beyond early childhood. This long-term advantage highlights the strong academic foundation Montessori preschools provide.

Finally, a meta-analysis by Marshall (2017) consolidates evidence from multiple studies, showing that Montessori students consistently outperform their peers on standardised tests in language and mathematics. This broad analysis underscores the effectiveness of the Montessori approach in promoting academic excellence.

LET’S START WITH:

What does AN AUTHENTIC Montessori school look like?

These studies (1970 - 2020) focused on children attending authentic Montessori schools. Since the term “Montessori” isn’t trademarked, any school can use the name—even without following true Montessori principles. A genuine Montessori school features mixed-age classrooms (typically ages 3–6), well-equipped environments with hands-on Montessori materials, and an uninterrupted 3-hour work cycle. There is a strong emphasis on practical life activities that build independence and self-sufficiency. Teachers closely observe each child, guide learning based on individual needs, and nurture intrinsic motivation rather than using external rewards. The classrooms are thoughtfully prepared to support focus and independence, led by qualified Montessori pedagogues.

OUR CURRICULUM AREAS:

Practical Life

This area is often misunderstood, as introducing children to everyday tasks like pouring, sweeping, or buttoning might seem too simple. However, these activities play a crucial role in academic success by building the foundational skills needed for literacy, mathematics, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Practical Life exercises help children develop focus, coordination, independence, and perseverance, which directly contribute to their ability to learn and succeed in traditional academic subjects.

Additionally, the activities involve precise hand movements that strengthen the small muscles in the hands and fingers, which are key to writing. Tasks like using tweezers, threading, pouring, or tying shoelaces help build this essential coordination. These activities also develop concentration and attention to detail through activities such as food prep, polishing, and arranging materials, which support reading, writing, and problem-solving.

Many exercises involve logical sequencing - like setting a table or following a recipe - helping children think in an ordered way. Practical Life also fosters independence, decision-making, and problem-solving as children learn, for example, how to button a cardigan or clean up a spill. These everyday tasks also support literacy and maths by encouraging pattern recognition, organisation, and sequencing, like matching socks or working with locks and keys.

Sensorial

The Sensorial area in Montessori education is designed to refine all five senses - sight, touch, sound, taste, and smell - while helping children classify, compare, and make sense of the world around them. While it may look like simple sensory play, these carefully designed activities lay a strong academic foundation.

Children develop essential pre-maths skills by exploring patterns, order, size gradation, and comparison. Materials like the Pink Tower, Knobbles Cylinders, and Colour Tablets build spatial awareness, measurement concepts, and visual discrimination - skills that support geometry and logical thinking in maths.

Sensorial work also prepares children for writing. Tools like the geometric cabinet, touch boards, and cylinder blocks strengthen hand-eye coordination and fine motor control, helping children develop their pencil grip and the ability to trace and form shapes and letters smoothly.

In literacy, visual and auditory discrimination are key for reading and phonics. Sensorial materials help children distinguish similar shapes and sizes, like those in the letters “b” and “d,” or “p” and “q.” The sound cylinders and matching activities sharpen listening skills, which are crucial for phonetic awareness.

Sensorial activities also support critical thinking and early problem-solving. Children learn to observe and analyse relationships between shapes and sizes, laying the groundwork for algebra, geometry, and logical reasoning. Materials like the Binomial and Trinomial cubes or Constructive Triangles teach how parts fit together - just like puzzles in math or science.

Science skills also emerge through Sensorial exploration. The children practice categorising, observing, and analysing through tools like thermic tablets, smelling bottles, and Montessori bells. These early experiences build the curiosity and thinking habits needed for music, environmental studies, and the sciences later.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World (KUW)

In this area, the children are introduced to real-world topics like geography, science, history, nature, and culture. This area nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that support success in subjects like science, social studies, literacy, and maths.

Through hands-on activities like nature walks, simple experiments (e.g., sink or float, magnetism), and botany and zoology puzzles, children begin to think like scientists—observing, questioning, and categorising. They build early STEM skills while developing a love for discovery.

Geography in Montessori goes beyond map work. With puzzle maps, globes, and land/water form models, the children gain spatial awareness and learn about continents, countries, and cultures. Cultural studies introduce them to global traditions, food, and music, encouraging appreciation for diversity and building a strong foundation in social studies and history.

KUW also boosts language development. Naming animals, parts of a plant, or continents expands vocabulary, while discussing time, seasons, and weather strengthens comprehension. Labelling activities and real-world discussions support early reading and writing skills.

In maths, KUW activities like sorting leaves, measuring natural objects, and sequencing days or seasons help children understand patterns, classification, time, and measurement - key mathematical concepts.

Most importantly, KUW encourages children to ask questions, explore answers, and engage with the world around them, building the confidence and curiosity that fuel lifelong learning and academic success.

Literacy

The Montessori literacy curriculum nurtures a child’s natural love for language while developing strong listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills at their own pace. Rather than relying on memorisation, it takes a thoughtful, hands-on approach to help children understand how language works, starting with sounds and building up to full sentences.

It begins with phonemic awareness, where children learn to hear and identify sounds in words through playful activities like the “I Spy” game. From there, they explore letters through multi-sensory tools like sandpaper letters and the large movable alphabet, connecting sounds to symbols in a meaningful way.

Language is woven throughout the classroom, with rich vocabulary introduced through real objects, classification cards, stories, and conversation. Writing is encouraged before reading, as children naturally begin forming words with materials like the movable alphabet, using the sounds they’ve learned while working on their pencil control materials, such as insets for design.

This engaging, hands-on journey helps children become confident readers and writers, laying a strong foundation for future academic success.

Mathematics & Arithmetics

The Montessori maths curriculum helps children develop a deep, hands-on understanding of mathematical concepts by starting with concrete materials before moving to abstract thinking. This thoughtful, step-by-step approach allows children to build strong number sense, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills at their own pace, essential for long-term academic success.

Children begin by exploring tactile materials like number rods, sandpaper numbers, and golden beads, which make numbers and quantities feel real and meaningful. Operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are introduced with tools like bead bars and number boards, allowing children to see and understand how maths works logically.

Rather than memorising answers, children are encouraged to think through problems and make discoveries. They progress at their own pace, building confidence and a true love for learning. Maths is also linked to real-life experiences, such as measuring for baking, dividing whole objects into equal parts (fractions), measuring with a ruler or working with calendars, helping children see its purpose beyond the classroom.

Montessori maths is not just about learning to count - it’s about learning how to think, reason, and solve problems for life.

FINAL THOUGHT

An authentic Montessori school offers more than strong academics – it gives your child the best possible start in life. In this nurturing environment, children grow into confident, independent learners who truly enjoy learning. They’re supported as individuals, free to learn at their own pace in ways that make sense to them.

While the classrooms feel calm and playful, the learning is rich and meaningful. Montessori children often progress ahead academically – not through pressure, but through hands-on materials and focused guidance that build deep understanding in reading, writing, maths, and science, along with problem-solving and focus skills that last a lifetime.

So, when your child says, “I played all day,” you can smile knowing they were also building life skills and academic confidence that will carry them through school and beyond. The Montessori curriculum helps children grow into capable, curious, and happy learners, ready for whatever the future brings.

Eva is Little Gems' manager in our Larnaca setting. Please schedule a visit to either of our settings to experience what authentic Montessori pre-school classrooms should look like. Welcome!