The Montessori Approach
Who was Maria Montessori?
Maria Montessori was the first female doctor in turn of the century Italy who based her educational method on multi-modal, experiential learning. Her method is found on all continents and is thriving in the 21st century. There are over 5,000 Montessori schools in North America.
What is the Montessori philosophy?
The Montessori educational philosophy is based on the belief that a child learns best in an environment where his/her individual development is respected. Students learn to work independently and in groups in classrooms that encourage creativity, self-direction and decision-making. Teachers in Montessori classrooms are the "guides on the side", not "sages on the stage"-they nurture independent learning one-on-one alongside students rather than leading an entire classroom along one path. Since students are encouraged to think independently and to make decisions from an early age, they are effective problem-solvers who develop a strong, positive sense of self.
What are the benefits of a Montessori education?
"And so we discovered that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being. It is not acquired by listening to words, but in virtue of experiences in which the child acts on his environment." (pg. 8, The Absorbent Mind, Maria Montessori)
Maria Montessori saw a great need for reform in the education system of her day and devoted her lifetime to creating schools that develop the full potential of each individual child. She believed that education could be a powerful force in creating more responsible and caring individuals and that through observation, individual liberty and a carefully prepared environment great success was possible. Parents today want to feel safe and secure in leaving their children in a school that provides for all of their academic, social and emotional needs. A Montessori environment does meet all of these needs and more. It teaches children an "I can do it" attitude that will ensure their future success in all aspects of their life. Other benefits of a Montessori education are:
Does Montessori offer enough structure for students?
The Montessori prepared environment offers structure within the framework of choice. Students make thoughtful decisions from the beautiful didactic materials in the classroom and build upon each activity. Teachers give lessons and guidance and encourage extensions and additional explorations of the materials.
Who was Maria Montessori?
Maria Montessori was the first female doctor in turn of the century Italy who based her educational method on multi-modal, experiential learning. Her method is found on all continents and is thriving in the 21st century. There are over 5,000 Montessori schools in North America.
What is the Montessori philosophy?
The Montessori educational philosophy is based on the belief that a child learns best in an environment where his/her individual development is respected. Students learn to work independently and in groups in classrooms that encourage creativity, self-direction and decision-making. Teachers in Montessori classrooms are the "guides on the side", not "sages on the stage"-they nurture independent learning one-on-one alongside students rather than leading an entire classroom along one path. Since students are encouraged to think independently and to make decisions from an early age, they are effective problem-solvers who develop a strong, positive sense of self.
What are the benefits of a Montessori education?
"And so we discovered that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being. It is not acquired by listening to words, but in virtue of experiences in which the child acts on his environment." (pg. 8, The Absorbent Mind, Maria Montessori)
Maria Montessori saw a great need for reform in the education system of her day and devoted her lifetime to creating schools that develop the full potential of each individual child. She believed that education could be a powerful force in creating more responsible and caring individuals and that through observation, individual liberty and a carefully prepared environment great success was possible. Parents today want to feel safe and secure in leaving their children in a school that provides for all of their academic, social and emotional needs. A Montessori environment does meet all of these needs and more. It teaches children an "I can do it" attitude that will ensure their future success in all aspects of their life. Other benefits of a Montessori education are:
- Individual learning - Montessori recognizes that each child learns at a different pace and we allow the time for that growth to take place. Montessori's method is based on a deep understanding and appreciation of child development.
- Three year age span of children within the classroom - older children help to teach the younger children which reinforces their own learning and builds self-esteem. There is a strong sense of community in each classroom.
- There is an emphasis on concrete learning first which provides a firm foundation for abstraction - children need to experience concepts in concrete "hands on" ways before they can think abstractly about concepts.
- The children work for the joy of working and the sense of discovery. Children are natural leaders and delight in learning new tasks. They are interested in the work itself rather then in the end product.
- The classroom environment provides the structure for behavior expectations - the "ground rules" are clear, predictable and constant and reinforced by the children and the adults.
- The teacher plays an unobtrusive role in the classroom - children are motivated by their own internal need for self development and not by the teacher.
- The Montessori materials are self-correcting - children learn through their own efforts to make correct decisions versus having the teacher point out their mistakes.
Does Montessori offer enough structure for students?
The Montessori prepared environment offers structure within the framework of choice. Students make thoughtful decisions from the beautiful didactic materials in the classroom and build upon each activity. Teachers give lessons and guidance and encourage extensions and additional explorations of the materials.