Educate yourself about the Montessori Method. You cannot explain something that you do not understand yourself. Many resources are available both online and in your local library. Most Montessori school libraries also have references available to parents.
Share Maria Montessori's philosophy about how children learn. Traditional schooling asserts that children's minds are empty slates upon which the teacher will write, and the lessons are given to all children at one time at a pace set by the teacher. Dr. Montessori believed that children learn best at their own pace as they are ready to absorb new information. Children are born naturally curious, so providing them with the tools to learn and engaging their curiosity is a more effective way to teach.
Show pictures of Montessori materials. While traditional schools rely on worksheets to teach lessons, Montessori schools use special materials that children can physically manipulate to learn a lesson. These materials are designed to tell the child when he has mastered a skill, so he can approach his work as if he is doing a puzzle. The child feels proud of himself when he accomplishes the task correctly, which generates pride internally rather than from external means.
State the appeal of the Montessori materials for tactile and kinesthetic learners. Many young children learn best by using their bodies rather than by seeing or hearing a lesson. A child might not grasp what seeing "3 + 3" means when written on a piece of paper, but he will understand the concept when he is given a set of beads and asked what happens when he adds three beads to another set of three beads.
Talk about the way the Montessori Method fosters responsibility in young children. In a Montessori classroom, children as young as 3 years old are responsible for returning the Montessori materials to the shelves in the way they found them. The children are responsible for sweeping the floors and maintaining order in their classroom, which teaches them the importance of caring for their environment as part of a larger group.
Point out examples of successful Montessori graduates. Children who attend a Montessori school learn how to learn. For example, instead of doing worksheets to practice punctuation and grammar skills, the class might write a newspaper and edit one another's work, which teaches the same skills in a way that empowers the children. Graduates from Montessori programs frequently grow into adults who are lifelong learners and successful in their later endeavors.