What is the philosophy behind the Montessori approach to schooling?
The Montessori philosophy is an alternate way of education.
It was founded by Dr. Maria Montessori, more than 100 years ago. She was the first woman in Italy to receive a medical degree. Her observation revealed this method. She retested her observations across various countries over a decade to come up with her legacy, the Montessori method. She believed that each child is born with a unique potential to be revealed, rather than as a ‘blank slate’ waiting to be written upon.
Her principles were based on the fact that children self-construct themselves and build skills with direct experience with keys to the world. Unlike animals, the child doesn’t inherit already established models of behaviour that guarantee success, but the child develops his powers.
The Montessori method views the child as one who is naturally eager for knowledge and capable of initiating learning in a supportive, thoughtfully prepared learning environment. It attempts to develop children physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively.
The natural development of the human mind is supported by:
- the absorbent mind,
- sensitive periods and
- human tendencies.
The absorbent mind explains the process by which the child gains knowledge from the environment. The sensitive period of development describes the pattern the child follows in gaining knowledge of his environment. Human tendencies are innate human traits which motivate human behaviour already present at birth and continue to be active throughout life.
Parents and teachers caring for children can benefit enormously from understanding these deeply ingrained behaviours. Children acting in synchronicity with their natural development are internally motivated and fulfilled. Whereas, trying to make a child work against their innate behaviour can be a lot like trying to swim upstream with your hands tied behind your back. The Montessori method of education helps children to meet their needs and is based on an in-depth understanding of these facts.
During the age of 0 to 6 years, the child’s power of absorption is highest and lifelong attitudes and patterns of learning are firmly formed which form the basis for success in life. This period never repeats itself in the life of the child.
The Montessori method aims to develop a new generation of fulfilled and well-balanced adults who would arise to lead the world towards peace.
In the authentic Montessori environment, the child, teacher, and environment form the learning triangle. The teacher is the link between the environment and the child. The teacher sets up the classroom in a way that encourages each child:
- To exercise her or his independence according to their chosen path within a set of boundaries,
- Develop concentration,
- Work uninterrupted and
- Taking care of their needs.
The essential elements of a Montessori environment are:
- Mixed-age classrooms (ages 2½ to 6 years old): Multi-age groupings foster peer learning. Younger children learn from older ones, and older children reinforce their learning by teaching concepts they’ve mastered.
- Students choose of activity from within a prescribed range of options.
- Uninterrupted blocks of work time, ideally three hours.
- Students learn concepts from concrete material to abstract, rather than by direct instruction.
- Specialized educational materials developed by Montessori and her collaborators are often made out of natural, aesthetic materials such as wood, rather than plastic in an aesthetically appealing environment.
- A thoughtfully prepared environment where materials are organized by subject area, within reach of the child, and appropriate in size.
- Children enjoy different forms of freedom within limits.
- A trained Montessori guide follows the child and is highly experienced in observing the individual child’s characteristics, tendencies, innate talents, and abilities.
For more information:
· https://www.fundacionmontessori.org/the-montessori-method.htm