Montessori at EIS

Can This Philosophy Really Help Your Child?

Montessori at Exupery International School

By Marianna Hodash
Photographed by Andris Sproģis

September 11, 2025

Recently, we invited Montessori specialist Evelīna Sproģe to meet with EIS teachers and share the key principles of this educational approach. Evelīna — a mother of four and founder of “Evelina’s Virtual School” — brings extensive experience working with children and leading workshops for parents and educators. In her lecture, she emphasized that Montessori is not just a method for specialized schools but an approach that can enrich any learning environment, at home or in the classroom. Here is our conversation with her that we hope will be helpful to all of the families out there.

— Why do Montessori principles matter not just in Montessori schools but for all parents and teachers, especially with preschoolers?

— People often associate Montessori with a narrow set of ideas, but in fact it is first and foremost a way of looking at children. Adults take the role of guides, not directors. It starts with how we think about children: with patience, respect, and the recognition that their efforts matter. Respect is revealed in details—for instance, how often we hurry a preschooler to put on clothes quickly. If we allow them the time, they gain not just the skill but the confidence that comes with mastering it themselves.

At home or in school, the key is to create an environment that supports independence. One practical example is the introduction of child-sized furniture, which Montessori insisted upon so that children could reach and use everything themselves. Today it feels obvious, but at the time it was a radical step toward treating children as capable participants in their own learning.

The more we understand child development, the easier it becomes to communicate and work with children. You don’t need to be a specialist to benefit from this perspective—basic awareness already makes a difference.

— What kinds of materials are used in Montessori education?

— There are five main groups: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, and Culture (which covers subjects such as geography, biology, zoology, and physics). Each material isolates one idea.

Take the Pink Tower: ten wooden cubes from 10 cm down to 1 cm. Building it teaches more than balance. The child learns the word cube instead of block, discovers gradation from largest to smallest, and acquires vocabulary for size and shape. If this work is done on a mat, they also absorb action words like carry and bring. A simple material opens the door to geometry, movement, and language all at once.

— Why are the materials usually one color?

— To avoid distraction. Authentic Montessori materials are monochrome so that the child can focus on form or concept rather than being drawn to bright colors. Commercial “Montessori-style” toys often ignore this and turn into something different entirely.

— Up to what age can Montessori be applied? Is there a point when it’s too late to start?

— In fact, the Montessori approach can be applied from the moment a woman realizes she is pregnant. You can practice Montessori starting from toddlerhood and continue all the way through adolescence. The age group most people associate with Montessori is 3–6 years, the same as in Maria Montessori’s first school, the Casa dei Bambini. One of its distinctive features is the mixed-age classroom, where younger children learn from older ones, and the older children take on responsibility by guiding and helping. Another hallmark is the three-hour work cycle. If a child becomes deeply engaged, we avoid breaking their concentration. In primary school, lessons are woven through stories; for adolescents, learning often takes the form of projects that mirror real life—working on a farm, cooking, or managing tasks together. It’s always education through lived experience.

Montessori method training for teachers of Exupery International School

— How would you evaluate EIS’s environment for children?

— Firstly, the spaces here are light and thoughtfully arranged, clearly designed with children in mind. Outdoors and indoors alike, there is room for movement and focus. I also saw that the teachers were not only familiar with Montessori ideas but curious to use them in their own way. That willingness to learn and adapt is as important as the materials themselves.

— What advice would you give parents who want to follow Montessori principles at home?

— Don’t rush. Don’t step in when a child can do something for themselves. If a preschooler can dress, let them practice. That requires us as adults to slow down and make time for them. And don’t interrupt concentration. If a child is absorbed in drawing or building, resist the urge to comment. Wait until they pause—that’s the moment to connect.

At EIS, our mission is not only to support children’s academic growth but also to ensure their well-being and happiness. We integrate internationally recognized methods and evidence-based practices — Montessori among them — to provide a learning environment that fosters independence, curiosity, and resilience.

If you’d like to learn more about EIS and experience our community firsthand, we’d be happy to welcome you for a visit — just get in touch to arrange a time. And of course, keep an eye out for more inspiring conversations with our guest lecturers!

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