Several key principles come together to form the Montessori approach:

• Movement and learning are closely connected. Movement enhances learning.
  
• Placing children into mixed age groups, corresponding to the planes of development, helps them relate to children who are both older and younger.
  
• Observation of the child helps reveal the proper timing of the presenting of new information and experiences.
• Attending to sensitive periods of development helps to guide the choice of classroom activity in which a child will be engaged.
  
• The classroom experience should build on the desire of the young child to master his or her environment.
• The use of self-correcting materials allow children to manipulate and explore at their own pace.