Montessori primary school

Hands-on understanding and learning

The primary school on the Bierstadter Strasse Campus operates according to the principles of Montessori pedagogy, following the teaching plan for state primary schools and the Hessian orientation framework (Rahmenplan). The classrooms consist of learning and free-choice work areas with educational materials called “intelligent” materials. The teachers see themselves as helpers who assist the children, in accordance with the motto “help me to do it myself” and guiding them towards the materials, which are coordinated with one another. To arouse interest in the working materials, the environment is designed as living space that encourages learning and invites the children to engage with the materials. The materials illustrate the curriculum and stimulate the child’s independent activity. The child understands facts in different ways and is motivated to concentrate on working independently and to control himself/herself through the results.

In Year 1, the children have a separate lesson in which a Montessori teacher helps them learn how to use the materials for independent learning. From Year 2 onwards, working with these materials is integrated into the weekly timetable along with German, mathematics and other subjects.

The Montessori primary school fulfils the primary schools’ fundamental mandate to provide education under section 171 of the Hessian School Act (HSchG). Accordingly, it has to provide its pupils with basic knowledge and skills and to prepare them for the following stages of their education.

Lessons in the Montessori classes end at 12:40 p.m. and are followed by a balanced lunch and afternoon supervision.

The primary school operates four classes in parallel. Two classes are bilingual, and two classes are run according to the Montessori concept.