The Montessori Method

What is Montessori?

Montessori is an approach to education, both philosophical and practical, that respects each child’s unique individuality and nurtures his or her natural abilities. Developed by Italian physician and expert observer of child development, Dr. Maria Montessori, a Montessori education fosters independence, initiative, and a lifelong love of learning.

The Montessori classroom is a stimulating, child-centered environment, purposefully prepared and thoughtfully organized to invite exploration and facilitate independent, hands-on learning.  Children engage in an exciting process of discovery, proceeding at their own pace and according to their own needs, interests, talents, and readiness.  Their work includes real life activities with a sense of purpose as well as the use of scientifically designed, self-correcting materials.

Montessori and Your Child
• Children respected as unique individuals.
• Self-directed learning.
• Individually paced with multiple learning pathways.
• Children focus and concentrate their energies.
• Children grouped by three-year age spans.
• Freedom (within limits) is the rule; children learn in a non-disruptive environment.

The Montessori Method

Montessori education is the continuation of the life’s work of Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952), a three-time Nobel Peace prize nominee.  Dr. Montessori approached education as a scientist, believing that educational methodologies should be developed objectively through observing and learning from children themselves.

Every method, material, lesson, and activity that Dr. Montessori developed was based on her scientific observation of childrens natural and innate ability to learn.  Dr. Montessori discovered that children almost effortlessly absorb knowledge from their surroundings; that they learn best through their own physical activity and senses; that they consistently strive to become ever more capable and independent; that they move through predictable planes of development while retaining their unique individuality; and that they experience “sensitive periods” for learning certain concepts.

Revolutionary at the time, her research found that a child could become physically and mentally healthy, psychologically fulfilled, kind, joyful, and extremely well educated without any manipulation by adults.  Dr. Montessori’s observations revealed that when children are placed in an environment that meets their needs, they are able to “build” themselves.  There are now decades of clinical studies and thousands upon thousands of Montessori students to validate her observations.

History of Montessori

Dr. Montessori’s first pupils were children from a reconstructed slum area outside Rome, where the original Casa de Bambini or “Children’s House” was established in 1907. As news of the children’s remarkable realization of potential spread, visitors came from all over the world to view the “Montessori Method.” Dr. Montessori went on to share her ideas and observations through scholarly writings, lectures, and even demonstrations, including one at the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco where spectators were able to observe an actual active classroom behind a glass wall.
Montessori training centers were established and Montessori education flourished. After more than a century, it continues to thrive throughout the United States and the rest of the world. Today, thousands of Montessori schools support the natural growth and development of children from all socioeconomic backgrounds, religions, and ability levels including those who are gifted, mentally challenged, or have physical, emotional or learning disabilities.  The Montessori method has the flexibility to adapt to each child’s developmental needs.

The primary classes are for children 3 to 6 years old, the age group originally studied by Dr. Montessori, and are the most prevalent Montessori programs.  However, there are also many infant/toddler programs (ages 2 months to 3 years), elementary programs (ages 6 – 9 and 9 – 12), and adolescent programs (ages 12 – 15).  There are even a few Montessori high schools throughout the country.

A Prepared Environment

A Montessori classroom is referred to as a “prepared environment” because the space and everything in it is deliberately designed and arranged to invite exploration and facilitate independent learning. Furniture and equipment are child-sized and organized into work areas. Materials are displayed invitingly where children can reach them and are kept in set places so children can always find them on their own.

The Materials

The Montessori materials are elegant learning tools that naturally capture childrens attention and hold their interest through many repetitions. Of varying degrees of difficulty, they teach one skill at a time. Many are self-correcting. The children themselves see when they’ve made an error, determine what it was, and figure out how to fix it – a discovery process often punctuated by a triumphant declaration of “I did it!”

In our classrooms, the Montessori directress (teacher) observes each child, assesses readiness, and introduces new activities and materials in lessons tailored to a child’s unique interests, abilities, and learning style. Each child learns at his or her own pace.

Every child is free to choose from the many activities within his ability level and to work at any time with any material from which she has had a lesson. Step by step, she can tackle simple tasks, then, when ready, move on to more complex ones. There is no set timetable.  The tasks chosen and the time it takes to master them differ from one child to the next.  In a Montessori multi-age classroom, a child cannot be ahead or behind. Children are proud of their accomplishments at every stage of development.

At both the primary and elementary levels, Montessori programs group children by three-year age spans; 3 – 6 year olds learn together in primary classrooms while 6 – 9 and 9 – 12 year olds make up the elementary groups. Children are not separated by age within their classrooms. They explore, discover, create, and grow together, learning from and because of each other.

A Community of Children

In a classroom that mixes younger children and older ones, as well as new students and experienced ones, younger children gain maturity and a sense of what lies ahead by watching and emulating their older classmates. They do not hesitate to ask for assistance. Older children offer it spontaneously, sharing knowledge and helping with activities in ways that consolidate and strengthen their own learning. Best of all, the classroom becomes a community where children of all ages come to accept one another and to treat each other with kindness and respect.

 

 

You can read more about us and our staff. See how the Montessori Method can provide the ideal learning environment for your preschool or elementary school child. We offer an early preschool program and All Day Program to accommodate our parents needs.  Contact us to see Montessori in action at our weekly Open House. Learn more about how to observe a preschool in action.

Call Mastro Montessori Academy at 732-842-5816 and schedule a visit today.