Key principles

The Montessori Method is based on 9 key areas:

• Movement and Cognition - movement can enhance thinking and learning
• Choice - learning and well-being are improved when people have a sense of control over their lives
• Executive Function - the ability to direct one's attention in a sustained and concentrated way fosters an array of positive developments and is itself trainable
• Interest - people learn better when they are interested in what they are learning
• Extrinsic Rewards are avoided - tying extrinsic rewards to an activity, such as money for reading or high grades for tests, negatively impacts motivation to engage in that activity when the reward is withdrawn
• Learning with and from peers - collaborative arrangements can be very conducive to learning
• Learning in context - learning situated in meaningful contexts is often deeper and richer than learning in abstract contexts
• Teacher ways and child ways - particular forms of adult interaction are associated with more optimal child outcomes
• Order in environment and mind - order in the environment is beneficial to children.

This list of points are from the book 'Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius' by Angeline Stoll Lillard.