Montessori Education
Education is to inspire life,
to enrich life, to help the
children with their own
strength to survive and to
help them develop the spirit.
– Maria Montessori
Montessori education
is an educational approach developed by Italian physician and educator, Maria Montessori.
In 1907 Maria Montessori opened her first classroom,
the Casa dei Bambini or Children’s house, in Rome.
From the beginning, Montessori based her work on her observations of children
and experimentation with the environment, materials, and lessons.
The Montessori Philosophy
Montessori education
is characterised by an emphasis on
independence, freedom within limits and respect for a child’s natural psychological development.
The Association Montessori International cite the following elements as essential:
Mixed age classrooms
Student choice of activity from within a prescribed range of options Uninterrupted blocks of work time A constructivism or “discovery” model, where students learn concepts from working with materials rather than by direct instruction Specialised educational materials
A few things to expect
in a Montessori school
A prepared environment
Beautifully organized classrooms are adapted to the needs of children that stimulate logical thought and discovery
The role of the educator
Observer and facilitator who carefully determines each child’s unique character and customizes activities that best suit individual needs
Community
Mixed-age classrooms promotes peer learning and builds confidence as children work cooperatively.
Independent work
Long uninterrupted activity period allows children to work at their own pace to explore complex concepts from multiple perspective, and develop a wide range of interests.
MONTESSORI FOCUS
Life education based on respect and love for self, others and the environment Developing the human potential in making the connection between life and the universe Embracing home, school and the greater community as part of the educational approach Offering a learning environment of engagement and calmness Nurturing relationships that satisfy the true needs of the child
MONTESSORI TEACHING
Montessori is a prevalent approach to educating individuals where the key principles of Independence, Observation, Following the Child, Correcting the Child, Prepared Environment and Absorbent Mind are practiced.
Perhaps the most significant reason for its success is that it is a comprehensive method of education resulting from an integration of research on development, learning, curriculum, and teaching. In the Montessori view of education, the purpose of education is to serve as an aid to life.
Dr. Montessori felt that her greatest discovery was that children’s play actually consisted of the important work of development. In fact, children have a natural drive to work in order to develop.
The child’s great task is to become an adult. As a result, children are not contented unless they have an opportunity to develop and learn.
Since Montessori schools are based upon the principle that “…the child, not the teacher, is the construction of man, and so of society…” it is felt that the, “human teacher can only help the great work that is being done…”
“Education is not what the teacher gives; education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words, but by experiences upon the environment.”
Therefore, the teacher’s job is to provide materials and the environment which will aid development in addition to responding when help is required.
Therefore, Montessori is an approach to education based upon the principle that schooling should work with the nature of the child instead of against it. Therefore, education should be based upon scientific study of the child and a resulting understanding of the processes of development and learning. Dr. Montessori felt that her greatest discovery was that children’s play actually consisted of the important work of development. In fact, children have a natural drive to work in order to develop.
The child’s great task is to become an adult. As a result, children are not contented unless they have an opportunity to develop and learn.
Since Montessori schools are based upon the principle that “…the child, not the teacher, is the construction of man, and so of society…” it is felt that the, “human teacher can only help the great work that is being done…”
“Education is not what the teacher gives; education is a natural process spontaneously carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words, but by experiences upon the environment.”
Therefore, the teacher’s job is to provide the materials and environment which will aid development and to be ready to respond when help is needed.
