In his work at the UBS investment firm, Timothy (Tim) Shields has performed executive duties ranging from software licensing to portfolio management. In his work at UBS, he draws on his experience at Stanford University, where he earned a master of business administration. Tim Shields also sits on the board of Morningside Academy, a Montessori-based school in Oak Park, Illinois.

1. Montessori
Method
Focuses on
Individual
Learning
Initiatives
Tim Shields

2. Introduction
 In his work at the UBS investment firm, Timothy (Tim) Shields has
performed executive duties ranging from software licensing to portfolio
management. In his work at UBS, he draws on his experience at
Stanford University, where he earned a master of business
administration. Tim Shields also sits on the board of Morningside
Academy, a Montessori-based school in Oak Park, Illinois.
The Montessori movement began in 1907, when scientist-teacher Dr.
Maria Montessori opened a school for educationally deprived children
in a poor Italian neighborhood. Although they misbehaved, they
responded well to puzzles, meal preparation, housecleaning, and
hands-on learning. For the most part, they taught themselves at their
own pace, responding to their innate curiosity.
Montessori’s framework for education includes four key stages of
development:

3. Montessori Method
 - The absorbing mind (birth to 6). Children in this stage take
in the positive and negative influences of their language
and culture.
- The rational mind (6 to 12). Children use their imagination
and learn abstract thinking.
- The humanistic mind (12 to 18). They shift their concerns
to a global scale and wonder how they can advance
humanity.
- The specialist mind (18 to 24). Now considered adults,
they discover where they fit into society.

4. Conclusion
 Montessori classrooms are designed to be comfortable
learning environments, featuring materials that teach a one
new concept at a time. These aids help children understand
that errors are part of the learning process.
The curriculum begins by exploring simple ways to help
others, then moving on to language, sensory inputs, and
mathematics. After age 6, children explore the social,
biological, cultural, and physical worlds in topics ranging
from astronomy and physics to literature and history.