THE MONTESSORI EDUCATION How it started Dr. Maria Montessori, the creator of the Montessori Method based her techniques on her scientific observation of young children’s behavior. As the first woman physician in Italy she was assigned to work with children labelled as retarded, In 1901 she was invited to start a school in one of the poorest areas in Italy, The school became a laboratory for her educational philosophy and belief—children have the potential to learn. She carried her message throughout the world, including the United States as early as 1912. After an enthusiastic first response, interest in the US waned until a reintroduction of the method in the mid-1950s, followed by the organization of the American Montessori Society in 1960. What Makes Montessori Education Unique? The Whole Child approach. The primary goal of a Montessori program is to help each child reach full potential in all areas of life. Activities promote the development of social skills, emotional growth, and physical coordination as well as cognitive preparation. The holistic curriculum, under the direction of a specially prepared teacher, allows the child to experience the joy of learning, time to enjoy the process and ensure the development of self-esteem, and provides the experiences from which children create their knowledge. The Prepared Environment. In order for self-directed learning to take place, the whole learning environment (i.e., room, materials, and social climate) must be supportive of the learner. The teacher provides necessary resources, including opportunities for children to function in a safe and positive climate. The teacher thus gains the childrens trust, which enables them to try new things and build self-confidence. The Montessori materials. Dr. Montessoris observations of the kinds of things which children enjoy and use repeatedly led her to design a number of multisensory, sequential and self-correcting materials which facilitate the learning of skills and lead to learning of abstract ideas. The Teacher. Originally called a Directress, the Montessori teacher functions as designer of the environment, resource person, role model, demonstrator, record-keeper, and meticulous observer of each childs behavior and growth. How Does it Work? Each Montessori class, from toddlers through high school, operates on the principle of freedom within limits. Every program has its set of ground rules which differs from age to age, but is always based on core Montessori beliefs - respect for each other and for the environment. Children are free to work at their own pace with materials they have chosen, either alone or with others. The teacher relies on her/his observations of the children to determine which new activities and materials she may introduce to an individual child or to a small or large group. The aim is to encourage active, self-directed learning and to strike a balance of individual mastery with small group collaboration within the whole group community. How is Creativity Encouraged? Creativity flourishes in an atmosphere of acceptance and trust. Montessorians recognize that each child, from toddler to teenager, learns and expresses her/himself in a very individu . Information courtesy of The American Montessori Society.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 06:55:10 +0000
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