Children are to be respected as children and as individuals who are different from one another. 

Children experience “sensitive periods” (windows of opportunity) for absorbing and learning from their environment; these periods are different from those of an adult and have to do with the development of the brain. 

The most important years of growth are the first six years of life, during which time unconscious learning is gradually brought to the conscious level.

Children have a deep love of and need for purposeful work.  They work, not as an adult does, for profit and recognition, but for the sake of the activity itself.  This activity leads to their most important task, the full development of their mental, physical, and psychological abilities.

Education should be based upon careful and continuous observation of children.

Order and concentration lead to coordination and independence.  Order is created both externally, through a well-organized environment, and internally in the manner the children operate within the classroom.  

Concentration is necessary before any learning can take place, and is encouraged by our classroom procedures and materials.  

Physical coordination is necessary because children learn through their body and senses.  The materials provide opportunities to develop skills such as balance, eye-hand coordination, fine motor control, and body control.  

Independence results from learning and comes from children’s innate  desire and ability to understand and  function in their environment.Two important classroom procedures that support these principles are Ground Rules and Normalization.Ground Rules are guidelines that teach respect for people and the environment, and provide an orderly and stable environment.  

Some examples of respect shown the children are the use of “indoor voices” in the classroom, and allowing each child the prerogative to work without being disturbed, usurped, or required to work with others rather than alone.  By replacing work in its original manner and position, cleaning up spills, pushing in chairs, and rolling up rugs, the children show respect for their environment.

Normalization refers to the gradual change in children as they become self directed, autonomous and able to make meaningful decisions on their own.  A normalized child consistently follows the ground rules and is an eager learner.

Each learning material is called an exercise or work.  Exercises and works teach a single concept or skill, depending on the child’s interests and abilities.    For younger children, single skills are isolated, such as eye-hand coordination.  Older children are drawn to specific learning activities that may involve multiplication tables or spelling.

The materials in each area are sequenced according to complexity and difficulty, to ensure understanding and provide and increasingly challenging progression for the child.  

Children first learn the sounds of letters, and then to blend these sounds into words.

Children are introduced to these independent learning activities by discovery and demonstration.  Some exercises can be explored, but others such as the golden bead material, need to be demonstrated by the teacher for maximum benefit and understanding.

The classroom principles, procedures and materials have a common goal -enabling children to grow as self-disciplined and happy learners.